My MP's response to my query that she would not agree to voting for a no-deal Brexit. Is this based in reality?

CAULFIELD, Maria
to me

Dear Anthony

Thank you for contacting me about the Withdrawal Agreement which we are due to vote on in Parliament next week. I see from your email that you are unhappy about that we are leaving the EU but given that we are due to leave in March it is important that we leave with the best possible deal.

The Withdrawal Agreement is part of the process of leaving the EU and will ensure that the UK takes back control of its laws, borders and money. This means an end to free movement, the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice coming to a close and vast budget payments to the EU ending once and for all. We will also be out of the Common Agriculture Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy. EU and UK citizens will have their rights protected, including for healthcare and pensions. They will be able to continue to live their lives broadly as they do now.

The Political Declaration on the UK and the EU's future relationship has also been agreed. Both sides have agreed to create a free trade area that will mean no tariffs, fees, charges or quantitative restrictions for goods. This is a unique deal. No other advanced economy in the world has such a relationship with the EU. At the same time, the UK will be able to negotiate its own international trade deals from the start of the implementation period. This will allow us to take advantage of the estimated 90 per cent of world growth that will come from outside the EU in the future.

New arrangements for financial services will ensure that access to EU markets cannot be revoked on a political whim. Further provisions will be made for digital, intellectual property, mobility and transport.

Our new security and defence partnership with the EU will be more extensive than any other, with continued cooperation in Europol and Eurojust. Sharing of data on DNA, passenger name records and fingerprints will continue and there will be a surrender agreement to ensure that criminals are brought to justice.

I do however have concerns about the backstop contained within the agreement. Along with many other MPs I made know these concerns to the Prime Minister before Christmas. Since then the PM has been renegotiating this aspect of the agreement and we await to see the details of any changes that are to be made and I will look closely at the amendments being made before deciding how I will vote on the deal. I will of course take on board the points you have raised in your email when considering my decision.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Maria Caulfield

Member of Parliament for Lewes