IT is vitally important that my constituents should be kept fully up to date on my views at this great moment in our history. I have received many hundreds of letters in the aftermath of last week’s momentous events.

The interesting thing is that, with the exception of a few arch loyalists, who are impressed by Theresa May’s stoicism and determination in the face of deadly enemy fire; with the exception of them, every single letter - from Brexiteer, Remainers and a broad spread of opinions in between, has called on me to oppose the appalling proposals put before us last week.


I have for many months joined with others in trying to persuade the PM to see reason and face up to the political reality that her ‘Chequers proposals’ simply do not achieve what the 52 per cent were demanding, namely a clean break from the EU. The EU were ready to accept a free trade area, akin to that successfully negotiated with Canada. And the Irish Border question can easily be solved using electronic methods, in precisely the same way as we do with 90 per cent of our imports from outside the EU.


Yet the proposals she has now negotiated are a great deal worse than Chequers. They tie us in perhaps forever to a Customs Union, they give the European Court of Justice superior powers to our own courts, and risk splitting the union.


So I will without question be joining a great many of my colleagues in voting against these proposals when she brings them before Parliament in early December. Assuming that we can collectively defeat them, then I will be seeking a fundamental renegotiation with the EU. They must be made to understand that we will only agree to a Free Trade Area arrangement akin to Canada, and that if they do not agree to it, we are ready simply to walk away.


Most of the world’s trade is done under World Trade Organisation terms. So I am increasingly coming to the view that while I would much prefer a ‘deal’ with the EU, it is by no means a prerequisite for a prosperous and healthy economy in the years to come. The EU need us at least as much as we need them, but only some tough taking will finally make them realise it. We must be ready for a free trade area after March 29.


Not only all of that, but we are proposing to give them £29 billion for the privilege of becoming an EU vassal state. That is enough to pay the salaries of 26,000 nurses for 40 years. I firmly believe that we can retrieve the situation, and move towards a free trade agreement. If we do not at least try to do so, then Mrs May must bear personal responsibility for having sold out the 17.5 million people who voted to leave.