Gavin Williamson: Deal or no deal, Britain will thrive after Brexit
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson believes Britain will ‘succeed and thrive’ no matter which way the Brexit vote swings tonight.
In a tone of war-time spirit, the South Staffordshire MP declared ‘this country always succeeds whatever the challenges we face’.
It came as Theresa May's Brexit deal seemingly faced a heavy defeat in the Commons tonight, increasing the likelihood of Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
At a Cabinet meeting this morning Amber Rudd is reported to have called for a motion aimed at ruling out 'no deal' should the Prime Minister's deal get voted down.
Mr Williamson, who will back Theresa May’s deal, is thought to have been one of a number of MPs to reject the idea.
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Mr Williamson told the Express & Star: “I will be supporting her deal and very much hope it will go through.
“I hope this is what the House of Commons chooses to do. There is a choice between this deal or no deal.
“But if Britain is in a situation where we leave the European Union with no deal, I have every confidence and every belief that Britain will succeed.
"It is a nation that will thrive and it is a nation that will continue to do brilliantly well.
“I know this country always succeeds whatever the challenges and actually, you know, obviously everyone’s preferred choice is to have a deal in place.
“That’s what is available to the House of Commons but let us not listen to the naysayers that Britain can’t succeed because Britain always will.”
Mr Williamson insisted the deal could still win the vote of MPs tonight, adding: “I’m very hopeful the deal gets through.
"What the Prime Minister has done, she has worked in terms of constructing a deal right across Europe, giving Britain access to markets and the ability to trade with markets.
"But also making sure we leave the European Union, we are out of the customs union, we have control of our own borders and in future, we won’t be giving the European Union money.”
