UPDATE: MPs will vote for Britain to leave EU

The Prime Minister announced on Saturday that the poll, the first of its kind since 1975, will take place on June 23 after he concluded marathon negotiations in Brussels.

The Conservative leader claimed leaving the EU would threaten “economic and national security”.

David Cameron announces the date of the in/out referendum

His comments were echoed by Tobias Ellwood, MP for Bournemouth East.

"The EU is far from perfect and we have perhaps not done enough to influence it from within in the past," he said.

"This settlement allows us to have the best of both worlds, to be able to influence things and not be dragged into a longer term EU super state which other nations are inclined to support."

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood

Mr Ellwood, a junior minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said leaving the trading bloc could see tariffs imposed on Dorset businesses exporting to the continent, damaging the county's successful aerospace and digital industries.

He said the Prime Minister's deal would see the country protected from further political integration and also any destabilisation in the Eurozone.

"This is a great country, a powerful and influential country, and it will be successful inside or outside the EU," he said.

"From my perspective the UK should be inside to play a leading role from within one of the world's largest organisations, rather than try and affect it from outside.

"It is in Britain's DNA to be a world leader."

However, at least three of David Cameron's fellow Tory MPs in Dorset intend to go against him and vote to leave.

Christchurch MP Chris Chope told the Daily Echo the deal was “not good enough” and will not allow the UK to “regain control over our own destiny”.

“It’s not good enough for the United Kingdom and it’s not what we were promised – which was a fundamental change – and that’s why I shall be supporting the leave campaign,” said Mr Chope.

Christchurch MP Chris Chope

Asked why he felt it was so important for the UK to leave, the backbencher said: “It means being able to make our own laws, control our own borders and engage in our own trade deals – instead of being subservient to an organisation which comprises 27 other countries.

“I think these negotiations have shown just how difficult it is to be the odd country out in 28.

“We are always fighting to try and do what we want – but are always being constrained.

“Why, for example, should we have a seven-year limit on being able to control the issue of benefits for non-UK citizens? Surely we should be deciding those things ourselves?”

And Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns, who has previously been bound by collective ministerial responsibility as a parliamentary private secretary, told the Echo he felt liberated to finally be able to express his desire to leave the EU.

“It has been clear that there has been a travel of powers away from national parliaments and national governments to unelected European officials and appointees that the British people neither elect nor, crucially, can remove,” said Mr Burns.

Bournemouth West MP Conor Burns

“We have reached a point where the public in Britain at a general election could have their hearts burning with desire to change their government. And to change the policies of their government. And they will find out all really they will change are the faces of the prime ministerial jobs – because the policies are not decided in the UK – they are decided by qualified majorities in Brussels.

“That has the effect of severing, in large measure, the direct relationship between the vote in the ballot box and change in your country.

“It isn’t an argument for me about emergency brakes on immigration and all these other things the Prime Minister has promised – it is a very clear choice – do we want in Britain to elect the people who make our laws and make them again truly accountable to the public who put them there?”

Mr Burns also warned that he expects the Remain campaign to use scaremongering tactics.

“I think the British people should expect to be scared to death in the coming weeks – but some of the arguments that are going to be made are so implausible as to be ludicrous, if you pause for a moment to give them scrutiny.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax told the Echo: “From the beginning the Prime Minster was not asking for nearly enough, not least on immigration which remains a huge problem.

“I shall be campaigning to leave the EU because I believe the country must be in charge of its own destiny, has to have control over our sovereignty, our democracy and our freedom.”

South Dorset MP Richard Drax

Mr Drax added that “whatever Mr Cameron says” he believes the UK’s continuing membership of the EU would result in the country being “drawn further in”.

“I for one am not prepared to do that to my country,” he said. 

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill said he will be voting to leave the EU, having previously reserved judgement until the Prime Minister had concluded his negotiations.

“I have been very open about my grave concerns with regard to the security of our sea and air ports and the movement of people across our borders,” said Mr Underhill.

Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner Martyn Underhill

“I am also worried about Britain's sovereignty from a policing and judicial point of view. 

“I do not believe the new proposals deal with these issues.

"The Home Secretary has rightly said that while European countries must work together to tackle terrorism, our national security is ultimately our responsibility, not Europe's. 

"I therefore look forward to our country potentially re-instating its border controls and recovering its legal autonomy.”

The South East Dorset Green Party released a statement to the Echo calling for the UK to remain in the EU.

The statement said: “The EU helps us look after our environment too. It’s only by working with our European neighbours that we can tackle climate change, protect wildlife and reduce pollution. Thanks to EU rules, our beaches are cleaner, and our dirtiest power stations are being shut down.

“The European story should be celebrated. Countries with different histories and cultures have come together, opting to share sovereignty while keeping their own traditions, in order to work together for the common good.

“Now, more than ever, being a member of the EU helps the UK meet head on international challenges like the refugee crisis, international terrorism and climate change.”