‘Voice of Yorkshire must be heard’

YORKSHIRE MPS are optimistic that the region will be represented in a Brexit summit in York this summer, despite indications from ministers that the event will be open only to directly-elected metro mayors.

Brexit Secretary David Davis first revealed plans to meet with Northern leaders in January, painting it as an opportunity to ensure the region’s voice is represented in upcoming negotiations with Europe.

Concerns were raised that Yorkshire would be shut out of these talks due to delays securing devolution settlements that would pave the way for mayoral elections.

Ministers have since passed up a second opportunity to extend the invitation to other local representatives, but MPs claim they have received private assurances that Yorkshire’s views will be heard. “I spoke to David Davis and he will definitely invite North Yorkshire’s leaders and the city of York as well,” the Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake told The Yorkshire Post.

“We need to make sure everybody is represented; it is frustrating with devolution, but that shouldn’t stop us from joining a meeting like this which is so critical to the region.

“Brexit is the most important economic event that has happened to this country for decades.

“So it is absolutely critical that we take into account every different element of the Yorkshire economy and particularly of course the North Yorkshire economy.”

The Tory MP’s comments follow an exchange in the House of Commons in which Brexit minister David Jones refused to commit to opening the York summit to non-mayors.

Asked about the Government’s plans to involve the regions in its preparations, Mr Jones told MPs that ministers are committed to “securing a deal that works for... all parts of England”.

27 The number of countries in the EU bloc with whom the Government will have to negotiate.

He went on to explain that the Secretary of State would be bringing the country’s “newly elected combined authority mayors” together in the summer.

But quizzed over the Secretary of State’s plans to invite “the leaders of those areas not represented by a mayor”, he said only that David Davis “has visited Yorkshire on a number of occasions” and will be “willing to consider another visit after the election”.

Mr Jones also restated the Government’s intention to walk away from trade negotiations with the European Union if a good deal is not on the table.

The Minister said the UK was prepared to negotiate “toughly” with the 27-strong bloc, in contrast with Labour’s stance of avoiding no deal at all costs.

“The ambition and intention of the Government is to achieve the best possible free trade agreement with our EU partners,” he said.

“However, our position also is this – we expect to negotiate toughly and, unlike the opposition, our position will be made clear to the European Union that we are prepared to walk away from the negotiating table if it is not possible to achieve a deal that suits us.”

It comes as the influential leftleaning thinktank the IPPR calls for a new deal on immigration that allows free movement for key workers in the economy.

In a new report, the organisation claims that applying non-EU migration rules to EU citizens after Brexit would be “damaging for the EU trade negotiations and harmful to the UK’s labour market”.

“A system that allows free movement for certain sectors would... be more likely to secure public support,” it says.