Andy Street: PM's Brexit deal secures what people voted for in referendum
Theresa May's Brexit deal secures what people in the West Midlands voted for in the EU referendum, the region's Mayor has claimed.
Andy Street has urged MPs to back the Prime Minister's agreement, which has been meet with mass opposition from MPs who backed both Remain and Leave, while in a poll nearly two thirds of Express & Star readers also gave it the thumbs down.
But Tory Mayor Mr Street insisted the deal honoured the referendum result, and warned that the alternative of a 'no deal' Brexit could shrink the economy by almost 10 per cent – with the West Midlands one of the areas most likely to suffer.
He praised the 'grit and bravery' of Mrs May, and urged MPs in the region to 'pluck up the courage' to back the deal in the interest of their constituents.
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Former John Lewis boss Mr Street said strong economic growth in the West Midlands would be 'under threat' if the UK gets Brexit wrong.
"The West Midlands region voted to leave the European Union by the largest margin in the UK (59 per cent to 41 per cent), with people voting to take back control from Brussels," he said.
"If we are to maintain trust in our democratic system, we must honour the result of the referendum, and that is exactly what the Government’s deal does.
"The deal with the EU secures much of what people in the West Midlands voted for."
Mr Street said the deal meant the UK would be able to set its own immigration policy, and that firms such as JLR would be able to trade with Europe 'freely and easily', securing 'thousands of jobs for the long term'.
He added: "In the coming months, there are details which will be worked through, but on the substantive points, this deal works for the West Midlands.
"The Prime Minister has been pragmatic, business-friendly, and doggedly determined in her negotiations.
"In the face of slings and arrows from members of all parties, she has shown grit and bravery.
"These are the characteristics which the British public admire, and which will ultimately lead to a successful Brexit and to a reunited country afterwards.
"We are seeing significant economic success in the West Midlands, in a way which we have not for forty years. For the UK to succeed, the West Midlands must succeed. Let us not put it all at risk by hoping for the perfect deal.
"I hope that MPs in the region will put aside party politics, and pluck up the courage to vote in the interest of the people of the West Midlands.
"And I hope that MPs from the rest of the country will remember that delivering Brexit and the future prosperity of this country will require them to be brave and pragmatic in the national interest."
