Gainsborough MP says Theresa May has proved her commitment to Brexit

I can tell you from the front lines, the bill’s passage was neither simple nor easy but those supporting it have managed to get it through.

Some constituents have written in to me expressing scepticism that we will ever leave the EU or claiming the Prime Minister is secretly trying to scupper Brexit.

Nothing could be further from the truth, and the significant effort Theresa May has put into passing this bill – as well as a certain amount of political bravado in standing up to the unelected Lords and calling their bluffs – are proof enough of that.

Britain is getting on with the job of leaving the European Union, and further details of the proposed future relationship with the EU will be delivered shortly in a White Paper.

I hope Britain will pursue a friendship that is very closely aligned to its friends on the continent, but maintaining its sovereign independence, control over its borders and he ability to make its own trade agreements.

I am glad that the new runway at Heathrow Airport will be entirely funded by private finance with no money from taxpayers.

It is all very well to argue about the importance of London to the nation’s economy, but we have things in Lincolnshire that need doing too.

Delivering a new runway may deliver as many as 100,000 new jobs, double freight capacity, and with 15 per cent of new slots reserved for domestic routes it will help us get around as well.

Pubs are, of course, central to the life and vitality of many of our villages and towns here in Lincolnshire and across the country.

The Government has recognised this and has provided additional support to ensure that our English pub culture can survive and thrive.

The Asset of Community Value scheme allows communities to list facilities of local importance such as pubs to prevent them from being converted to private residences.

Since 2016, £3.6 million has been invested in the More Than A Pub community business support programme.

This helps communities across England that want to come together and own their local pub.

In addition, there is the ‘pub is the hub’ initiative helping landlords to diversify into providing essential services like post offices and village shops in order to make their business more sustainable.

What’s more, the Spring Budget last year provided a £1,000 discount on business rates for pubs with a rateable value of less than £100,000.

That’s a year -ong discount for 90 per cent of the pubs in England, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced in his Autumn Statement would be extended all the way through to March 2019.

These programmes and initiatives, together with the freeze on hiking alcohol duties, will go some way towards preserving the unique pub culture in this country as well as providing savings for those who enjoy a tipple at their local.