Gavin Williamson: No more delays on Brexit
Gavin Williamson urged the region's MPs to back the Prime Minister's Brexit deal, insisting: "There can be no more delays."
The Defence Secretary said that with just 18 days remaining before the UK is scheduled to leave the EU, it was time for MPs to deliver the will of their constituents.
He spoke to the Express & Star as Theresa May prepares to put her EU withdrawal agreement to a Commons vote for the second time tomorrow.
Earlier this year it was defeated by a record-breaking majority of 230, with more than half of the region's MPs – including three Tories – voting against it.
Thrive and prosper
Mr Williamson hit out at MPs who were intent on making Brexit "a never-never possibility", urged Brussels to give Britain reassurances over the Irish backstop, and insisted that if 'no deal' becomes a reality that the country would still "thrive and prosper".
"Frankly, I like most people in this area, just want to get on with getting out of the EU and start building a really exciting future for Britain," the South Staffordshire MP said.
"There's a deal on the table. Labour MPs in this area who all represent constituencies that voted for Leave, every one of them should be getting behind the Government's deal and not trying to delay it or seek another referendum.
"There are some MPs in the area that don't seem to understand what it is they have got to deliver.
"Those MPs who want to continue to extend and delay... they should remember that their focus should be on delivering the referendum result, not just trying to make Brexit a never-never possibility.
"People in this area voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU, the country voted to leave the EU... they want to see that happen."
Brussels movement
Mr Williamson said that the EU needed "to move" from its position on the Irish backstop, giving the Government "enough to persuade the DUP to support the deal".
"Brussels needs to give Parliament the reassurance that the backstop is not a permanent situation and that there will be an exit out of it," he said.
"If they are able to do that, then there will be a lot of people who will be comfortable backing the deal."
On the prospect of a 'no deal' Brexit, he said: "I am committed to seeing Britain leaving the EU on March 29.
"But if we get to a point where we leave without a deal, Britain will survive and Britain will thrive and prosper.
"We should not be scared of that. But we have a deal on the table, and both Conservative and Labour MPs should get on with backing it."
Over the weekend the Government appeared to reach a stalemate in its negotiations with Brussels, after the EU's chief negotiator Michel Barnier rejected proposals from Attorney General Geoffrey Cox over the backstop.
If Mrs May's deal fails again tomorrow MPs are set to vote on Wednesday to remove the possibility of leaving at the end of the month without a deal.
MPs could then vote on Thursday to ask the EU for an extension of Article 50.
