In June, the Conservative Party leadership contest officially started. I am concerned that a number of the MPs who have put themselves forward to be Prime Minister, including the front runner, Boris Johnson, support leaving the EU without a deal on 31st October if they are unable to renegotiate a looser relationship with the EU.

I am strongly opposed to crashing out of the EU without a deal. In Newcastle East, manufacturing employs around 3,500 people and the sector’s earnings are valued at £163 million. To protect this and other sectors who rely on a close economic partnership with the EU I have consistently voted against a no-deal Brexit and will continue to do so. I remain committed to backing a public vote in order to prevent a disastrous Tory Brexit or leaving without a deal.

That is why I co-tabled a Business of the House motion in the House of Commons which would have given Parliament control of the Order Paper on Tuesday 25th June. This would have paved the way for a short Bill requiring the Government to table a motion in Parliament before any no deal Brexit. The point being that the House of Commons would therefore have to be sitting. It would prevent Parliament being denied the chance to stop a no deal Brexit. The motion was defeated by 309 votes to 298.