Each month, I have the pleasure of writing a column for our local paper, the Daily Echo here in Southampton. Local journalism plays such a vital role in our community, and I’m proud to support it. I always enjoy the chance to share what I’ve been working on with Echo readers. Here’s my column for May:
We all know that Southampton is a proudly international city — a place where the world meets Britain. For centuries, we’ve played a key role in shaping this global perspective. So, it’s no surprise that many residents, organisations, and businesses speak to me about how the government is responding to today’s turbulent international landscape.
This week has been particularly significant, with the announcement of new trade agreements with the US, India, and the EU — all of which are major milestones. These deals will bring real benefits to jobs and livelihoods here in our city. In my additional role as Parliamentary Private Secretary for the Cabinet Office, I’ve been working closely with Ministers — particularly on the UK EU reset — to help secure the best possible deal for our country. Too many people felt constrained by previous arrangements, and I’m incredibly proud to have played a part in delivering positive change.
So, what does this mean for us here in Southampton? For our city, these developments will provide a real boost to local businesses, create more opportunities for our young people, and make travel across Europe easier for all — just to name a few of the benefits.
Southampton is home to one of the largest ports in the world. Associated British Ports handles over £70 billion worth of trade each year, delivering substantial economic value to the city as a whole. As part of the deal, a new SPS agreement will make it easier for food and drink to be imported and exported. There’s a reason why the supermarkets have welcomed this deal, and it should also mean groceries become cheaper too. By cutting unnecessary red tape, this will relieve pressure on businesses and help prevent the kind of lengthy lorry queues we’ve seen at the border in recent years. Importantly, this is a permanent agreement with no expiry date — offering long-term certainty for businesses and consumers alike.
You can fight a lot of things, but you can’t fight geography, and the EU is the UK’s largest trading partner so it’s right that we’ve done this deal to strengthen not only these ties, but Southampton’s trading relationships. This is long overdue after the 21% drop in exports and 7% drop in imports seen since Brexit. The UK will also be able to sell various products back into the EU again, supporting these vital British industries locally and nationally.
But it’s not just our economy that will benefit. The UK and the EU have also agreed to co-operate further on a youth experience scheme – which could see young people able to work and travel freely in Europe again. The scheme, which would be capped and time-limited, would mirror existing schemes the UK has with countries such as Australia and New Zealand. This is fantastic news for our city, which is full of bright young minds and our two leading universities. It means even greater opportunities will be available to all. Unsurprisingly, this has been rightfully welcomed by the education sector across Southampton.
The agreement supports jobs, lowers bills and secures our borders, which are all issues that I hear on the doorstep. The Prime Minister confirmed that a new agreement with the European Union will deliver on the government’s core mission to grow the economy, back British jobs and put more money in people’s pockets.
In the shadow of VE Day, we know that close alignment on security and defence is in the interests of both the UK and the EU. Now is the time for us to unite across our continent in order to guarantee the best outcome for us all. That spirit of unity and community was also felt much closer to home, as Southampton marked the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two in Europe. Our city played a pivotal role during the war — from building the Spitfire to supporting the D-Day landings — and we will always honour those who fought for our freedoms, both then and now. I was honoured to take part in several VE Day commemorations. From street parties and special concerts to tea parties and other remembrance events, it was incredibly moving to see people of all ages and backgrounds come together.
I also had the privilege of speaking with a number of veterans- one veteran shared a powerful message that I believe we should all take to heart: we must take greater pride in our country, embrace the relationships that bring us closer together, and recognise the strength that they bring.