We said we would Get Brexit Done, and tonight we have!

I am absolutely delighted that, following three days of debate this week, MPs have overwhelmingly agreed to pass the Prime Minister’s Brexit deal, and to secure our exit from the European Union on the 31st January.

Following the General Election, and with the huge mandate given by the country to the Conservatives to get on with Brexit, earlier this evening the Commons voted by 330 to 231 in favour of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill; a 99 vote majority.

I pay absolute tribute to our former Prime Minister, Theresa May, for her herculean efforts in trying to pass her Brexit agreement. We all know the difficulties she faced given the parliamentary arithmetic, and it is only after Boris Johnson secured his huge majority that we have been able to pass the legislation, and break the Brexit impasse.

Boris has been clear that one of the first acts of his new government would be to deliver on the mandate so clearly expressed in the 2016 referendum. During that campaign, I fought hard to free the UK from the shackles of EU bureaucracy, in the certain knowledge that our future is so much brighter as an independent globally-focussed free-trading nation, and I am delighted with his victory this evening, on behalf of everyone who wants us to get Brexit done and focus back on the priorities of the British people.

Our attention now turns to securing the future relationship and trade deal with our friends and allies in the EU, and to look forward positively to unleashing Britain’s potential in all four nations, and all corners, of our United Kingdom. Work has been underway for many months on this, and I am confident that we can deliver on our ambitions during the implementation period, whilst ensuring that we provide certainty and security for businesses, families, and hard-working Brits right across the country.

Thank you to all those who voted to end the dither and delay, and to support Boris Johnson and the Conservatives, in securing Brexit. But, regardless of how you voted last December, this is a Government that will work for everyone, wherever you are, to give you the support and opportunity to flourish and succeed, and to be best that you can be.

We will bring our United Kingdom back together, and make a huge success of Brexit!