MP Glyn Davies urges Tories to resist 'bun fight' on Europe

The Montgomeryshire MP has reiterated that he will not say which way he will be voting until he has had a chance to listen to his constituents.

He said: "Such disagreements exist in all political parties, but the demons in my Conservative Party released by the In/Out EU referendum threaten to escalate to mayhem.

"I do hope not, but whatever, it's a bun fight I won't be joining – much though I enjoyed bun fights at YFC social events when I was in my teens. Luckily, I grew up and calmed down – advice I offer to some of my colleagues."

Mr Davies said he has faced a barrage of questions from national media asking him to reveal which way he will vote in the referendum.

But he said that despite the pressure he will only reveal his decision closer to the June vote.

He said: "There is a proper way to deal with this huge issue, which is respectful to my constituents and to the members of my local Conservative Association. I cannot forget that I would not be an MP without them.

"It's true that anyone who has sought my views on EU membership over the last 50 years will know that I am Eurosceptic. I have never supported the idea of Great Britain being subsumed into an undemocratic EU bureaucracy. So I could vote 'Leave'.

"But it's also true that I have a great sense of loyalty to the Prime Minister. So I could vote 'remain'. But there are lots more aspects to this debate."

Mr Davies said he has arranged to meet Montgomeryshire Conservative members in early March in Welshpool to discuss the issue, and will hold as many community meetings as possible with any constituents who want to discuss the pros and cons of both options.

"I'm not going to tell anyone how they should vote, but I will try to help them decide," he said. "And then I will make public which way I will have decided to vote, in my own time and well before June 23. And there will be nothing but total respect for the opinions of those who might disagree with me."