Tees Valley Mayor Joins Brexit Talks

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen today met with the Government’s chief Brexit Minister, David Davis, alongside his fellow Northern Powerhouse Mayors.

Mr Houchen and the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region met David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, in York to present the Brexit priorities of Tees Valley and the wider North.

A passionate supporter of Brexit, Mr Houchen was one of the 64% of people in Tees Valley who voted for the UK to leave the EU in last year’s referendum.

Mr Houchen said: “Brexit is both the biggest opportunity Britain has in a generation, and the most significant challenge facing politicians. Tees Valley built the modern world, and we are now ready to reach out to the wider world once again and seize international opportunities.

“The best way to revitalise our region is to sell our skills and goods in the global market, and to achieve this we need a deal with the EU that businesses find acceptable and can plan for, while securing free trade deals with the world’s fastest growing economies.

“By meeting with David Davis I have been able to ask the questions people in Tees Valley want the answers to and raise the concerns about Brexit some people in our area have, while giving him the assurance that we are ready for the opportunities it will bring.”