As the debate over the Brexit deal hots up, Peter Barron talks to the leader of the North-East's biggest council about what needs to happen next

DURHAM County Council leader Simon Henig may have been a passionate advocate of the UK remaining in the European Union but, now the British people have voted to leave, he firmly believes that it is imperative to reach a speedy Brexit deal.

No other British region exports more than the North-East and, as the leader of the region’s biggest local authority, Councillor Henig is adamant prolonged uncertainty will damage the economy.

Nissan is firmly established as the region’s flagship company, with a supply chain spreading economic benefits throughout the North-East. Following a concerted campaign led by Durham County Council, Hitachi has provided another huge boost by bringing its train-building factory to Newton Aycliffe. And Thorn Lighting has made Spennymoor its UK headquarters in another vote of confidence in County Durham.

“Those big companies, and indeed other smaller firms, need certainty about the future as quickly as possible,” says Cllr Henig. “Business relies heavily on confidence and we mustn’t let the talks over the Brexit deal drag on. We have to get on with it.”

Cllr Henig considers it to be “highly significant” that the Government visited Nissan straight after the Brexit vote because it was a clear indication that it recognised the importance of the car manufacturer to the regional economy. And he says that early signal must be followed up with swift action to secure a deal that preserves business confidence.

“When I look back over the past 20 years, the period in which the North-East felt most depressed was after the end of the coal industry. And when it felt most positive was when companies were moving in with good quality jobs. We need to make sure that those businesses feel secure,” he says.

The importance of the growing cluster of technology companies which have been set up in Durham must also not be underestimated, says Cllr Henig. NETPark, home to a string of those cutting-edge businesses, is about to undergo a £6.83m expansion, while the county council is investing £13m from the Local Enterprise Partnership in paving the way for 3,200 more jobs on a 52-acre site at Forrest Park, next to the Hitachi site.

Several company bosses have spoken openly about the positive experience of doing business in Durham and Cllr Henig says that kind of feedback underlines the benefits of the 2009 move to a unitary authority, creating an effective one-stop shop.

Manufacturing and exports may be the obvious place to start in discussing a Brexit manifesto for Durham but the county council has also placed tourism at the heart of Durham’s economic strategy.

“The visitor economy is vital and our challenge is to shout about the big picture in Durham, nationally and internationally, so that perceptions and outdated myths are changed,” says Cllr Henig.

Indeed, there is much for County Durham to look forward to this year, with the return of Kynren, the UK’s biggest live show since the 2012 Olympics, and Lumiere, Britain’s largest light festival. The Open Treasure exhibition at Durham Cathedral is cited as another world-class attraction, along with the 125th anniversary of The Bowes Museum, and Beamish, which is undergoing an expansion with the addition of a 1950s town.

“There are so many attractions to shout about, as well as our wonderful countryside, but we have to pull it all together so that more people want to come here,” adds Cllr Henig.

As a politician, he’s acutely aware that concerns over immigration were central to the way the country voted on the EU referendum but he’s determined that the steadily improving visitor economy must not be undermined as a consequence.

“We have to recognise people’s concerns over immigration but we must never be seen as less welcoming. The visitor economy is crucial and we still very much want people to come here,” he insists.

With Durham having one of the world’s best universities, Cllr Henig is equally anxious that Britain isn’t seen to be closing the doors to international students and leading academics.

“Durham University is a huge asset to the county and the wider region and the Government must ensure that we go on attracting international talent,” he says.

For example, he believes it is “crazy” that general immigration statistics include students who are in this country for a fixed period.

“It looks like the Government is looking more positively at that issue so, hopefully, the way the numbers are calculated will be addressed,” he says.

Cllr Henig says the Prime Minister needs to reach a “finely calibrated” Brexit deal that finds the right balance between the concerns over those who voted to leave the EU with the ongoing economic and cultural interests of Durham and the wider North-East.

He acknowledges it won’t be easy but he sums up what is needed under three main themes – business, tourism, and education: “As a major exporting region, with a rich diversity of cutting-edge businesses, leaving the single market will inevitably be difficult but it’s vital that we can go on trading with all corners of the world.

“As a county with tourism at the heart of its economic strategy, Durham needs the world to know the gates aren’t locked to visitors.

“As a world-class centre of learning, Durham must go on being attractive to students and academics from around the world.

“And, above all else, we need to act quickly because it all depends on certainty, clarity – and confidence.”