Brexit

In 1999, EU rules forced the UK to stop offering Duty Free within Europe. After Brexit in March, I think we should bring duty free back! It brought pleasure to millions of people and would boost jobs in airports and on ferries.

Yesterday I opened the debate in Parliament about why Freeports have such huge potential to boost the Teesside economy.

In Parliament today I am joining forces with Frank Field, the veteran former Labour MP, to set out why a Freeport at Teesport would be such a great boost for our area. We have co-written a piece for The Times to explain why this is such an important topic.

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.