"We can now begin the process of building our future as an independent country once again" - these are the words of Halesowen and Rowley Regis MP James Morris who is backing Theresa May's Brexit deal as five days of crunch debate get underway in the Commons.

Mr Morris said the deal, which MPs vote on next Tuesday evening, allows Britain to take control of its borders and control its own immigration policy and declared it a "critical moment in our nation's history."

He said: "The next few weeks and months, as we prepare to leave the EU, represents a moment of huge opportunity for our country.

"We can begin the process of building our future as an independent country once again – free to determine our own immigration policy – to strike trade deals around the world to turbo charge our prosperity and for Parliament to determine our laws without interference.

"That is the prize before us.

"The alternative is a divided country which becomes paralysed by the Brexit debate. As someone who worked in small business before politics I am a pragmatist. Many people I speak to in Halesowen and Rowley Regis say to me ‘why can’t we just get on with leaving’.

"I agree.

"The agreement we have before us allows us to do just that."

Mr Morris, who voted for Article 50 which triggered leaving the EU and also backed the the EU Withdrawal Bill, said benefits of the deal are that it ends free movement, allowing the UK to set its own immigration policy, ensures "vast sums of money will not be sent to the EU every year" and will allow for trade with the European market and the freedom to strike independent trade deals around the world.

He also said it means Britain will be leaving the Common Agricultural Policy and Common Fisheries policy, restores the supremacy of the British Courts over the European Court of Justice, and guarantees no hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland.

He said: " The deal is not perfect; but we shouldn’t make perfect the enemy of the good."

But Ian Cooper, Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate for Halesowen and Rowley Regis, disagreed with Mr Morris and his backing of the deal. 

He said: “Mrs May cannot unite her own cabinet or party behind this ‘deal’, so Mr Morris belatedly pleads with voters to accept a bad deal to save the Conservative Party’s reputation.

"No-one at the referendum voted to be worse off, for jobs to be sacrificed or for our country to be permanently divided. Instead, Mrs May should accept Labour’s support and agree a deal which defends our rights, protects jobs and ensures a strong future relationship with our largest trading partner.”

The deal, which Theresa May has negotiated with the EU, has to be backed by a majority of MPs if it is to come into force. But first MPs will vote today on whether to hold ministers in "contempt of parliament" for refusing to publish the full legal advice given on its Brexit deal.

For James Morris's full view on Brexit visit his website.