Anglia region's MPs picking sides in the EU debate

Prime Minister David Cameron makes a statement announcing the date of the EU referendum Prime Minister David Cameron makes a statement announcing the date of the EU referendum Credit: Lauren Hurley/PA Wire

Half of the Conservative MPs in the Anglia region are to campaign to leave the European Union against the Prime Minister who has negotiated a deal to stay in.

David Cameron finished his negotiations with other leaders in Europe on Friday and after a Cabinet meeting on Saturday announced his proposed date for an in-out referendum on Thursday 23 June 2016.

Two Essex MPs in the Cabinet, Priti Patel (centre) and John Whittingdale (right) are to campaign to leave the European Union. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Immediately after the Cabinet meeting, six ministers announced they would campaign to leave the European Union including the Culture Secretary and Maldon MP John Whittingdale and Employment Minister and Witham MP Priti Patel.

Three other ministers from the Anglia region who also attend Cabinet are to follow the Government line and push for a vote for Britain to remain part of the EU.

They are the Environment Secretary and South West Norfolk MP Elizabeth Truss, the Harlow MP and Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party Rob Halfon and the Paymaster General and West Suffolk MP Matt Hancock.

Three ministers from the Anglia region in the Cabinet will campaign to stay in the EU. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Writing in the Mail on Sunday, Essex MP Prit Patel said she wanted Britain to become a genuinely sovereign country.

In a tweet, Suffolk MP Matt Hancock said that Britain was better off in a reformed EU, without the risks for years that exit would bring.

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell (right) with UKIP leader Nigel Farage will be campaigning to leave the EU. Credit: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire

Most of the region's Conservative MPs have decided which side of the debate they will campaign on.

There are 62 Conservative MPs in the Anglia region and of those that have so far declared a position in the referendum, 28 are planning to campaign to leave and 30 are joining the 'remain' campaign.

Three of the four Labour MPs in the Anglia region will fight to stay in the European Union: Daniel Zeichner in Cambridge, Gavin Shuker in Luton South and Clive Lewis in Norwich South.

Labour's Luton North MP Kelvin Hopkins remains on the 'Leave' side of the debate as he was during the referendum campaign of 1975.

The region's only Liberal Democrat, Norman Lamb in North Norfolk, will support his party's policy to stay in the EU.

The MP for Clacton, Douglas Carswell, who is Britain's only UKIP representative in the House of Commons, had long campaigned to leave the EU.

By floating your cursor over the map below you can see which way your MP is planning to campaign during the EU referendum although not all have yet declared or confirmed a position