For many, today, Monday, January 4, represents the first day back at work after the festive break - and the first day of a post-Brexit world.

Great Britain voted to leave the EU in the 2016 referendum and officially left its trading partner - its neighbour and biggest trading bloc - on January 31, 2020.

However, the UK and EU confirmed things would stay the same until December 31, 2020 - in a bid to allow enough time to agree to the terms of a new trade deal.

Despite complex and occasionally fractious negotiations the sides finally agreed a deal on 24 December.

Here is Hitchin MP Bim Afolami in his own words explaining why he voted the way he did.

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At the last two general elections, I stood on a promise to the people of Hitchin and Harpenden that I would commit to the Government's agenda to leave the EU with a deal.

The deal that has been presented in this treaty, one of the most significant trade bills in the world, will ensure that we maintain a close and intricate partnership with our allies across the Channel.

On December 30, therefore, I proudly voted for the future trade deal with the EU that was so determinedly negotiated by the Prime Minister and his team.

This deal brings back our freedom from EU laws, courts, and rules. It allows us to continue to trade – without tariffs or quotas - with the European market.

Following a decisive election last year, we promised to get Brexit done. We have honoured that promise.

In particular, bearing in mind the specific needs of this constituency, the key sectors affected by this trade deal are the agricultural sector, legal sector, and the financial services sector.

Here is my analysis:

On agricultural products, the UK and the EU have agreed to maintain free market access for trade in goods, protecting our producers from export tariffs, fees, charges and quantitative restrictions for manufactured or agricultural goods.

The fundamentals of the agreement are strong and sound, but I am discussing the practical details of any changes with local farmers and the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs.

Legal services are not only hugely valuable to our national economy but also to our global reputation - widely regarded as the benchmark for judicial standards.

Our lawyers will continue to be able to practise in the EU in a broadly similar way as to today.

I discussed financial services and market regulation with the Chancellor earlier this week.

He made clear that the overall objective was to tighten up agreements on the system of equivalence, which allow UK banks and other financial institutions to trade with EU customers as if they were still in the EU.

Over the coming months, a detailed memorandum of understanding will be produced - work on it is already underway - which will set out in detail how the new arrangements will work and find pragmatic solutions for any obstacles.

An issue of some interest to many constituents is the replacement of the Erasmus+ scheme.

I am very pleased that thousands of students will be able to participate in study and work placements across the world through a brand new scheme that replaces the UK's participation in Erasmus+.

From September 2021, the new Turing scheme will provide funding of £100 million for around 35,000 students in universities, colleges and schools to take advantage of placements and exchange programmes all over the world.

The UK will reap the rewards from this investment by boosting skills and prospects for application in the UK's economy and its industries, with strengthened international ties to institutions, businesses and societies around the world.

I am very glad that the Labour Party have decided to support this deal in recognition of the immense national interest to leave the EU with a deal ratified before 1st January.

As for the Liberal Democrats, they voted against it! An irrational, irresponsible position.

The Liberal Democrats said they would do anything to avoid No Deal - in addition to overturning the democratic vote of the referendum.

And yet, by voting against the deal, they have actively voted for a No Deal exit on January 1.

Pretty extraordinary. As Sir Keir Starmer, Leader of the Opposition, said in his statement to the House of Commons, "When the default is No Deal, it is not a mark of how pro-European you are to reject this deal.

"It is not in the national interest to duck a question or to hide in knowledge that others will save you from the consequences of your own vote". I agree with Keir.

Overall, I hope that by signing this deal with support from both the Conservative Party and the Labour Party, we can now finally move on as a country.

The years since the referendum have, in many ways, coarsened our politics and our public discourse.

Let us put to rest these differences and heal the scars of division.

We must now redeploy our political energy into making a success of this new era - for everyone - across all four nations.

This Government is determined that benefits of new investment and regeneration – as per the levelling up agenda - are evidenced throughout the entire country.

But many important issues that affect our day to day lives have not been addressed as government resources and parliamentary time has been disproportionately dedicated to matters of Brexit.

I will be working hard with colleagues across government to progress these policy areas – protecting the environment, accelerating economic recovery and promoting equality of opportunity.

Bim Afolami, MP for Hitchin and Harpenden