The political heavyweights of Hyndburn are at odds over whether the UK should vote to leave the European Union.

The Hyndburn and Haslingden MP Graham Jones told the Observer that he would be voting to stay in the EU, despite wanting to withdraw.

He said: “I really do get frustrated at the EU. It is not a political organisation I have any affinity for and its federalist agenda is not for Britain. I would like to withdraw but it is clear that there is no easy, obvious leave option. We’re shackled to the EU single market, in or out, our exporters to the EU are going to have to abide by the singe market regulations without UK having say.”

But he added that joining the EU transformed the UK from being the ‘sick man of Europe’ in the 1970s.

Mr Jones said: “We will get some of our border controls back but lose out in other ways. It’s very frustrating but I can’t see an out option that works.”

Hyndburn council leader Miles Parkinson said his concerns over the autonomy of the UK meant he would vote to leave the EU. He said: “I would be voting to come out of the European Union for a long list of reasons. My concerns are mainly on the UK’s sovereignty and control of our borders - if parliament is to have overall control of laws and its borders it’s better not to be within the European Union.”

He added: “But there are many questions to be asked that will come out in the debate.”

Conservative leader Tony Dobson said: “I’m genuinely undecided. If we vote to stay in we know what we are getting. What I want to be looking for is a completely open trading Europe without any tariffs but we don’t know what we’re going to be able to get if we leave.

“At the moment I don’t have all the information that I really want to have to make the decision. I’m bouncing around between in and out.”

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