Today in writing to President Tusk, the Prime Minister formally triggered Article 50 thereby beginning the official process of leaving the EU and carrying out the decision taken by voters in June 2016 to withdraw from the European Union.

I know many people locally remain apprehensive about the decision.  However, when the legislation was put in place to have a referendum there was a clear understanding that the result would be respected and implemented and, in my view, politicians should not seek to frustrate that decision.

This is an historic moment and as we begin negotiating our new relationship, we can be positive about the future of the UK, bold in the trading relationships we can forge with new friends and old allies, and ambitious in our vision to use this moment to build a better Britain. 

I have always used my voice in Parliament to speak up for the interests of Cheadle first, and I will continue to do so as we leave the European Union. I believe that we have a great deal to be optimistic about. We will build on Britain’s strengths with an industrial strategy that will back Britain for the long term. We are going to make our own decisions and laws, take control of our courts and this as an opportunity to build a stronger, fairer and more open Britain.

For businesses, we will deliver certainty to support small and medium-sized businesses, the lifeblood of my constituency, both those with strong trading relationships with the EU and many more who would like to embrace the opportunities to trade across the globe.

I believe we all want to see a stronger, fairer Britain that looks outwards and is confident in the knowledge that our best days lie ahead.