A THURROCK MP has had his say on the current Brexit situation, raising “serious concerns” over the proposed deal.

East Thurrock and Basildon MP Stephen Metcalfe published an open letter on the EU withdrawal agreement, querying Theresa May’s proposal.

Mr Metcalfe is the latest in a long line of MPs slamming the plan, with a host of south Essex MPs sending letters of no confidence.

In the letter he said: “I am mindful that I must vote on what I believe to be in the best interests of the people I represent and will do so based on my understanding of the reality of the situation and the options that are finally presented.

“That said, I campaigned and voted for Brexit. I did so because I wanted the UK to get the benefits and opportunities that leaving the EU can bring.

“I believe that people were motivated by wanting control over our borders, money, laws, agriculture and fishing. Nothing has happened since June 2016 to change my mind and I would still do same again.”

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal policy has been under fire from MPs across the political spectrum.

The letter continued: “I do have some very serious concerns about the Prime Minister’s draft Withdrawal Agreement particularly the open-ended nature of the proposal in its current form.

“It rightly recognises the need for a transition period to allow time for our new trade arrangements with the EU to be implemented. I feel this is required to give businesses the necessary time to prepare and put in place the necessary changes required for future arrangements.

“However, neither the possible extension of the transition period, nor the ‘back-stop’ are time limited.

Therefore, too much of the current proposal is predicated on trust with the EU. I believe a never-ending transition period, or the inability to leave unilaterally as a sovereign nation is unacceptable as it could leave us neither being completely in nor completely out of the EU.

I am concerned that the Withdrawal Agreement in its current form removes the incentive for the EU to get a deal done on our settled future trading relationship by December 2020. This risks turning a temporary arrangement meant for implementing a future trading relationship into a settled status. That would undermine the Brexit mandate.”