Tory MP Liam Fox says he will vote to leave the EU in referendum

Former defence secretary Dr Liam Fox has said he will vote for the UK to leave the European Union in an referendum.

In an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show, the Conservative MP saidoutlined the reasons why he "took that decision".

When asked if David Cameron would see his comments as a "stab in the back" as he attempts to renegotiate Britain's relationship in the EU, he said: "It's very clear from the discussions that are going on in Europe, the other European leaders are making it very clear that they intend to move towards an ever closer union and I think that's against Britain's national interest.

Dr Fox also said that Cabinet ministers should be allowed to campaign to leave without losing their jobs, arguing that it was "effectively a matter of conscience".

"The more that we are able to give freedom to colleagues and the more we treat one another's views with respect and tolerance, the easier it will be for us to come together after the referendum to continue to run the country."

He said pro-Brexit camps needed to "speak with a much greater, much more unified voice than they have had up to this point" and that he would "definitely" share a platform with Ukip leader Nigel Farage.

"It has to become a question of the issue and not a question of personalities", he added.

Meanwhile, former prime minister Sir John Major accused eurosceptics of using "bogus" arguments and said it was a "fantasy" that the UK could somehow be better off outside the EU.

He told Andrew Marr that he was confident the renegotiation would result in a "very different relationship" between Britain and the EU, including a "common sense" compromise on freedom of movement to deal with the pressure of internal migration.