Thank you Mr Speaker for calling me to speak in this debate.
Too often people do not trust politicians because too often politicians are not straight with them.
By claiming the WA is a ‘good deal’ that honours the referendum and honours the promises made, we do not succeed in deceiving people, we simply erode their trust.
The Prime Minister has done her very best in the most difficult of circumstances. I have admiration for her efforts to reach agreement with the EU and having to do this against opposition on all fronts from those who cannot accept the Referendum result.
I have a much simpler job to do. I am a leave voting MP representing a leave voting constituency. I am sent to Parliament to speak for my constituents.
I have a duty to stand up for my constituents and to be their voice in this place and the more so because all too often their voices are ignored.
The Referendum was an opportunity for my constituents a chance to speak and to be heard. They were offered a binary choice: leave or remain, in or out – there was no part in - part out. And they made their choice.
In 2017 I stood for election on what amounted to a single issue. "Theresa May will deliver Brexit:" every leaflet every election address every posting on social media: “Vote for Theresa May's candidate to ensure you get Brexit.”
The people in Telford voted in good faith. They trusted in the democratic process. They trusted in Theresa May and Theresa May’s candidate.
The Withdrawal Agreement does not deliver what was promised and we should not pretend it does. As for the Political Declaration it would need trust for it to be of value and Mr Speaker we no longer have trust.
The issue of trust is all the more important because before I was first elected to be the MP for Telford in 2015, Telford had always voted Labour. I spent two years before the 2015 election asking Telford to put aside their political allegiances, to put their trust in me.
I have a duty to honour that trust and I am proud to do so.
It matters all the more because of the way in which leave voters have been depicted by those who would not accept the result. Insulted, vilified - branded racists, ignorant, inward looking, that they were duped by brextremists, and wreckers.
I know the people I represent. I admire and respect them for their warmth their humour, their hard work and determination to build a better life, for their hope and optimism so often enduring against the odds, the ability to know what’s what, to see through smears and propaganda, to see the good in others and in no small part for their willingness to put their trust in me.
This vote has become about so much more than the Withdrawal Agreement - it has become a vote about trust between Parliament and the People, a vote about our democracy, a vote about ensuring the voices of the people we represent are heard through the noise and condescending arrogance of those who believe they know better.
And yes in some very small part, it is a vote against the red wine drinking, the red carpet walking, chauffer driven, gold plated pension entitled bureaucrats who have a complete disconnect from the people.
So when this Agreement is put the House, I will be voting in line with the 2017 manifesto, in line with what our Prime Minister promised not so long ago, and in line with the promises I made.
I will be voting for my constituents, for their right to be heard in this place, out of respect for their trust in democracy and out of a deep respect and loyalty to them and it is a something I am proud to do.
A far greater percentage of people in Telford voted to Leave the EU than ever voted for any Member of Parliament - and that is true of very many constituencies across this country.
This place gave people the right to decide this country’s future - having asked the people the question, having asked the people to decide, who are we to come here and try to deny them their voice?
We are rarely humble in this place Mr Speaker and I believe if we could show more humility we would be a better Parliament and would better serve the people who send us to this place.