I’m very pleased to see BAE Systems’ announcement that it will, this year, take on more apprentices than ever before.

The business will take on more than 800 apprentices – with 200 of those here in the North West.

This is the fourth time I have been elected as member of Parliament for Fylde; it is a very humbling experience. It is also a huge privilege to serve the people of Fylde and something I would never take for granted.

Mark Menzies was returned as the MP for Fylde for the fourth time in the 2019 General Election.

Mr Menzies was returned with a majority of 16,611, his biggest majority and vote share (60.9 per cent) yet.

The result was as follows:

Mark Menzies (Conservative) 28,432

Mark Menzies is no longer the MP for Fylde, but the Conservative Party candidate for Fylde.

Previous news stories relate to his work as the member of Parliament for the area.

The collapse of Thomas Cook this week is incredibly sad for both the staff involved in the company, and the hundreds of thousands of people who had booked a holiday with the firm.

Fylde MP Mark Menzies met with Business, Energy and Clean Growth Minister Kwasi Kwarteng to ask for a permanent moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Fylde.

He said: “I met with the Minister to highlight the concerns of constituents following the 2.9ML seismic event earlier this year.

It finally looks as though we are having a General Election to help us get Brexit done.

We must pass the Withdrawal Act this week and start the process of leaving the European Union.

The various moves to delay, to alter, and to change the deal on the table are nothing more than moves to prevent Brexit.

I write this column ahead of the crucial European Union meetings to be held at the end of the week.

Fylde MP Mark Menzies has welcomed the landmark Domestic Abuse Bill after it passed its Second Reading in Parliament.