Mark Pritchard MP: I will continue to fight for Brexit

Theresa May has sought to deliver Brexit through her Withdrawal Agreement, writes Mark Pritchard.

It is certainly not a perfect agreement, that is why I voted against the government on the first meaningful vote. However, it is better than no Brexit at all.

Thankfully, off the back of that first defeat the government sought to make changes and give reassurances around the Irish backstop. These changes were not huge but they did strengthen areas of legal weakness in the agreement. These legal changes did allow me to vote for the Withdrawal Agreement on the second and third meaningful votes.

Underpinning all my judgements on these and other votes, such as Parliament's recent indicative votes, was my complete commitment to deliver on Brexit and not to allow Brexit to be stopped by a coalition of those from across the political spectrum who seek to frustrate, delay or abandon Brexit altogether.

Whether MPs voted leave or remain is now irrelevant. What matters now is that MPs must honour the decision of the British people in the 2016 EU Referendum. Brexit must happen. The UK cannot lecture other countries on democracy if we ourselves ignore the will of the British people – mandated on a record scale.

As mentioned, I voted for the Prime Minister's Withdrawal Agreement – unenthusiastically. Believing that her deal was better than no Brexit at all. Sadly, Brexit is in real danger as Mr Speaker continues to rip up conventions and Parliament's rule book and seeks to allow Parliament to take control of the Order Paper. Leading to a government beholden to an increasingly brazen and arrogant Parliament.

In my view, no Prime Minister is above the people, no Parliament is above the people, and no MP is above the people. All of us are servants of the people. That may be an unfashionable view in the Parliament of 2019, but surely it is a fundamental tenet of our Parliamentary democracy.

That is why I do not support a second referendum and do not support revoking Article 50. It is also, whilst I voted for the Prime Minister's deal twice, that reluctantly, a no deal is still better than no Brexit at all. However, I still prefer an orderly and genuine Brexit on the 12th April. Parliament must stop frustrating this process. It is likely to try again today.

This is something most politicians appear to have forgotten. Labour will forever be defined as the party that finally emerged, after much internal conflict and wrangling, as the stop Brexit party. Propped up by the minority parties. Corbyn's personal lust for power is consigning the views of millions of Labour supporters, and many others, to the political scrap heap. Something he may well live to regret.

Whatever happens next, whether a meaningful vote four, or a variation, I will not support any motion or bill which undermines delivering on Brexit.

Parliament must serve the will of the people – not the other way around. I will continue to vote to deliver on the will of the British people.