SOUTH West Devon MP Gary Streeter has canvassed local businesses for their views on whether the UK government should go for a ’hard’ or a ’soft’ Brexit.

Following the June referendum all eyes have been on Westminster and the Conservative government, now led by prime minister Theresa May, to see when and how the process of leaving the European Union will unfold.

And in recent weeks the myriad possible outcomes of the complex task of disentangling the UK from the EU have been characterised as either ’hard’ or ’soft’. ’Soft Brexit’ sees Britain and its businesses continue to have access to the single market, while ’hard Brexit’ would see the UK risk losing that access.

Many politicians, who see the referendum result as a vote against unrestricted immigration from the EU, continue to claim the UK will be able to keep access to the single market while limiting such immigration, in the face of repeated assertions to the contrary from European and EU leaders.

But Mr Streeter, who voted to remain, is less definite. He said: ’There is no doubt that the UK will leave the EU in 2019. The issue is whether our businesses will continue to have access to the single market - soft Brexit - or whether if we refuse to allow free movement of people we have to forfeit access to the single market - hard Brexit.’

The MP has emailed nearly 350 businesses in his constituency asking for their views on what kind of Brexit the UK government should be seeking. He is contacting businesses of all kinds, especially firms that export or import directly into the EU.

Mr Streeter says the response from his constituents will inform his decision when the matter comes to the House of Commons for debate, and a likely vote, next year or the following, once negotiations are complete.

He continued: ’Brexit is going to happen, but this must be in a way that supports local businesses and the employment that they create. Getting the balance right will require great wisdom and will be the single biggest focus for Parliament and government in the next two years.

’I am firmly of the view that Parliament will have to ratify whatever deal the government strikes – it is what we are for.’

Any businesses in the South West Devon constituency area can email their views to the MP via [email protected] .