The crucial Brexit negotiations are entering their decisive phase. I told BBC's The Today Programme why we should go all out to secure a Canada style Free Trade Agreement that would deliver a strong trade deal with the EU and honour what people on Teesside voted for.

Ahead of the crucial Cabinet meeting at Chequers on Friday about our future relationship with the EU, Simon Clarke MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland pressed the Prime Minister to confirm that the UK will not find ourselves in a Norway-style situation after Brexit.

Like me, two-thirds of people here in Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland voted to leave the EU. But five Labour MPs in the North East have just demanded a second referendum, and Labour’s top politicians won’t rule it out. They want to ignore us.

Simon Clarke MP welcomes the really positive news that we end the year ready to move on to trade and security talks with the EU. Simon today asked the PM about the latest situation in her statement to Parliament after the successful conclusion of talks in Brussels.

This Tuesday, Simon Clarke questioned the Prime Minister in the House of Commons on Britain's exit from the European Union. 

With negotiations underway for Britain's departure from the European Union, it is vital to ensure that the best deal possible is delivered for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland as well as for the whole of the United Kingdom.

With the start of the negotiations of Britain's withdrawal from the European Union following the 2016 referendum, it is vital to ensure all the opportunities Brexit offers the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency are grasped.