VALE MPs Nigel Huddleston and Harriett Baldwin have backed embattled Prime Minister Theresa May after a week of turmoil over the Brexit deal being proposed by Number 10 which has cause deep division within the Tory party.
Speaking ahead of the publication of the Government’s White Paper which explains how the UK and EU will work together after Brexit, Evesham’s and Pershore’s MPs have given their thumbs up to their under pressure leader.
Nigel Huddleston told the Observer EU chiefs ought to respond in good faith to ensure negotiations over the UK’s exit can pick up pace.
“As the PM has made clear, business isn’t calling to reverse the referendum result but is planning to make a success of Brexit. The White Paper has also made clear that we will be leaving the EU, the customs union and the single market and ending freedom of movement – just as the referendum result requires,” he said.
Mr Huddleston was among 45 MPs to sign a letter calling on the Prime Minister to put UK businesses at the forefront of her mind when negotiating the exit deal.
“I was delighted to see much of what we asked for has now been confirmed in the White Paper and I hope business, including those in Worcestershire, will be reassured that the post-Brexit environment will be one in which they can continue to prosper,” he added.
High profile Brexiteers such as Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson both resigned in protest at Mrs May’s plans this week leading to speculation of a leadership challenge against the Prime Minister.
But Mrs Baldwin, who serves as a minister in the Foreign Office and at the Department of International Development, said the Prime Minister should be praised for the ‘great’ job she had done in navigating the complex issue of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union.
“I supported Theresa May to be our leader because I thought she would be the right person to lead us through the challenge of delivering Brexit and the get the best possible deal for our country,” she said.
“I continue to support her as she carries out this complex, critical work.”
After months of delays, the Government revealed its vision of how the UK would like to trade and co-operate with the EU after Brexit yesterday.
Among the key points is the UK will maintain a ‘common rulebook’ for all goods traded with the EU, including agricultural products
The thorny issue of the Northern Ireland border will be tackled by a treaty which will commit the UK to ‘continued harmonisation’ with EU rules as the border between the UK and the EU will be treated as shared customs territory.
Parliament will oversee the UK’s trade policy and have the ability to choose to diverge from the EU rules while the European Court of Justice will no longer have jurisdiction in the UK – but UK courts will have to pay ‘due regard’ to EU case law in certain areas.
The proposals also pledge to end the free movement of people between the UK and the continent but offer to establish guidelines to allow UK and EU citizens to travel to each other’s countries.
Critics of the plan have slammed the Prime Minister for giving away too much too easily and even claimed the blueprint would effectively mean the UK remaining in the EU.
A number of Brexit-backing Tory MPs, including those in the hardline Brexiteer European Research Group, are bidding to vote against the plans which could lead to the demise of the Prime Minister and an early General Election.
