Why I’m backing the Brexit deal

What are committed Brexiteers to make of Boris Johnson’s deal? It’s said that some Tories are cheering a compromise out of blind party loyalty – but I’m not sure I can be accused of that. I have devoted the last five years in pursuit of Brexit, and stood against the Tories in the last European election. But the political part is over. We now have a deal, and the question is whether it’s the real deal. I’d like to do two things: point out the many problems with this deal – problems that other Brexiteers are quiet about. But I’d also like to explain why, nonetheless, the deal is worthy of support. Even celebration.

As Ursula Von Der Leyen said, it certainly has been a long and winding road – for me especially. I resigned my position at the head of the British Chambers of Commerce in March 2016, under pressure from No10 for having had the temerity to suggests at our national conference that Britain could do well outside the EU – and might well be better off if it were.