Mrs Trevelyan was keen to see the Minister to stress the importance of the ports in the north east and their vital role in ensuring  the UK’s economic prosperity in our post-Brexit future. The meeting was part of the continuing work Anne-Marie is doing to ensure the north east’s ports benefit from our post-Brexit future beyond the customs union, and ensuring ports traffic continues to operate smoothly and can expand successfully once we have left the European Union.

Anne-Marie said: “This was a really constructive meeting, and I am pleased the Brexit Minister understands the value of our ports in the north east, so much so that he has pledged to make our region the first stop on his forthcoming schedule of regional visits. At present, being part of the EU’s customs union presents a significant barrier to our ability to trade freely with the wider world. The opportunities leaving will create for UK plc are huge and it is vital that our north east ports should benefit from this.  I will continue to do all I can to promote the importance of our region to Ministers and I am delighted to have the Mr Baker’s support.”

In addition to her interest in and support for north east ports, Anne-Marie has also been elected Vice Chair of the All-Party Group on Shipbuilding, which is chaired by fellow north east MP Kevan Jones (Labour, North Durham) both of whom will attend a meeting of the UK maritime industry in Parliament in September at the invitation of Transport Minister John Hayes.