LAST week the Government published its Brexit white paper, outlining the UK’s plan for our future relationship with the European Union.

The paper deals with plans for future trade, our status outside the European Union, and plans for the future of the United Kingdom after Brexit.

On the economy, the paper focuses on both minimising disruption to trade between the UK and the EU, and allowing the UK to develop its own trade policy.

Brexit will impact business around the country, including in Wantage and Didcot, so it is vital that any disruption is minimised.

The discussion on business at the national level seems to be focused around larger companies moving abroad, but locally I often meet small and medium-sized enterprise owners who tell me they will not be able to foot the bill if we have a no-deal Brexit.

It is therefore vital that we get this right and disruption to trade is minimised.

In order to do this the paper proposes a new free trade area for goods.

This would mean products would only have to undergo one set of approvals and authorisations in either market before being sold in both.

Crucially, it would avoid the need for a hard border in Northern Ireland and still allow us to develop our own independent trade policy.

It has taken us two years to arrive at this point.

While some members of the government have fallen out over Brexit, it is vital that they now pull together behind the Prime Minister.

Any further delay should be unacceptable to Brexiteers and Remainers alike, as the UK has finally established a clear negotiating position.

Negotiations with the EU resumed on Monday, and the government will use this paper to redouble their speed.

We are now aiming to develop and agree a framework for the future relationship between the UK and the EU this autumn.

This is of course a starting point for negotiations, and some parts might change over the next few months. However, the Prime Minister needs Parliament to agree with her, and any agreement will need to pass muster with both Brexiteer and Remainer MPs.

With the release of this white paper, I am hopeful that this is finally possible.