Brexit cannot leave Newcastle and the North East facing huge financial uncertainty as a result of lost regional aid funding, writes Dr Nick Cott, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Newcastle upon Tyne, North (pictured)

This funding has been used to create jobs, support small and medium enterprises, deliver skills training, invest in critical transport and boost inclusive growth in England from Northumberland to Cornwall and Cumbria to Kent. Even last week, support for employment projects here has been announced.

Not much reported by our newspapers, Japan has signed a mammoth trade deal with the European Union. See story here https://www.irishtimes.com/business/economy/eu-and-japan-sign-one-of-history-s-largest-trade-deals-1.3567791

The Irish Times says that the economic partnership agreement will bind together two trading powerhouses accounting for 30 per cent of the world's economy.

At their conference in Bournemouth later this month, the Liberal Democrats will point out all the downsides of leaving the European Union and reinforce its vigorous defence of jobs, living standards, individual rights, international co-operation and the British national interest.

They will be asked to support the following motion:

Liberal Democrat peer John, Lord Shipley, has spoken in the House of Lords about the north-east of England, its economy and its export dependency on the European Union and what needs to be done to protect the region's interests, and in particular its jobs. He was commenting on the Report from the European Union Committee Brexit: trade in goods, saying:

Theresa May should ask all parties to come together and negotiate the best possible Brexit deal for the whole country rather than pressing ahead with their extreme version of Brexit despite failing to get a mandate for it from the British people and a continued lack of clarity over the Brexit this government is pursuing means, say the Liberal Democrats.

Tim Farron has ruled out doing any coalition deals with Theresa May or Jeremy Corbyn after the election.

Every Liberal Democrat vote and every Liberal Democrat MP elected is a challenge to Theresa May's Hard Brexit agenda. In the next parliament we will fight to stop a disastrous Hard Brexit, keep Britain in the Single Market and make sure people have their say on the final Brexit deal in a referendum with remain as an option.

So what's bothering them? Why the sour faces? Surely this is the moment of their greatest triumph? Surging ahead of Labour in the polls. The snarling Right-wing press firmly on side. Only a tiny number of recalcitrant Conservative MPs. And the Article 50 letter, triggering the final steps towards the Promised Land of Brexit, tantalisingly close, writes Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrats' spokesman on Europe, in today's Evening Standard.

International students generate £514m to the economy in the North East of England and support over 2,000 jobs, according to an analysis by UniversitiesUK.

The research also found overseas students spent a total of £256m off-campus in the region.

Lord John Shipley, former Leader of Newcastle City Council and Liberal Democrat Brexit Spokesperson for the North East, commented:

More backing in Newcastle today for Britain to keep its place in the EU's single market