Conservative MPs hail 'fantastic' Brexit deal

The vote comfortably passed in the House of Commons as expected, more than four years after the UK opted to leave the EU.

Labour MPs were instructed to vote in favour of the deal but dozens defied the whip and chose to abstain during an uncomfortable day for Keir Starmer.

The Labour leader attacked Boris Johnson's deal as being "too thin" but said the only alternative was to crash out of the EU with no deal.

Dudley North MP Marco Longhi, a member of the Brexiteer European Research Group (ERG), said he was "ecstatic" with the deal. He said he would have lost faith in democracy had Brexit not gone ahead.

He told the Express & Star: "People said we would never achieve this deal. Look how long it took Canada - seven years. We've done it in less than 12 months while fighting a global pandemic and proven all the naysayers wrong. There are no tariffs, no quotas, we are taking back complete control of sovereignty.

"I feared democracy was at risk, where people said we want this and somehow the system denied it."

Stuart Anderson, Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West, said: "I'm delighted with the deal. We have got more than people thought we ever could."

Mr Anderson claimed the Labour leader had made his mind up before reading the full agreement, and believes the arguing over Brexit may not be over yet.

He said: "I was really upset he made his decision without reading it. He said the deal was too thin without reading it. You can't just make a decision without looking at it,"

He added: "I listened to Keir Starmer saying he wants to improve and adjust the bill so I don't think the argument is going to die."

Pat McFadden, Labour MP for Wolverhampton South East, followed Mr Starmer's orders in voting for the deal, saying it was better than the alternative. A total of 36 Labour MPs abstained and one voted against.

He said: "It is very simple. The deal negotiated is nowhere near as good as what we have now but it is better than no deal and that's why we are voting for it.

He added: "Keir Starmer was right to point out to the SNP that they were voting for something in the knowledge it wouldn't happen because of the votes of other parties, and that's a hypocritical thing to do.

"Keir Starmer approached the situation in a very mature fashion and realised that sometimes the choices before you are not the ones you want."