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Pro-Brexit Tories warn Osborne over emergency 'punishment' budget

Furious pro-Brexit Tories have warned they will block any attempt by George Osborne to impose an emergency "punishment" Budget if there is a vote to leave the European Union - with one backbencher calling on him to resign now.

Fifty-seven Conservative MPs have signed a statement warning that the Chancellor's position would be "untenable" if he tries to push through tax cuts aimed at filling a £30 billion "black hole" in the public finances which ministers say would emerge if Britain pulled out of the EU.

But a defiant Mr Osborne insisted he would have no choice but to act to prevent "chaos" in the public finances and "huge" economic instability.

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Darling: Membership of EU has helped bring prosperity to UK

Alistair Darling is pushing for the UK to remain in the EU. Credit: ITV News

Labour MP Alistair Darling has pleaded with voters to remain in the EU as it has helped "bring prosperity".

The former Chancellor of the Exchequer, who was sharing a stage with George Osborne, said: "For every £1 we put into the EU, we get £10 back in terms of benefits.

"It's benefits are unarguable and rather obvious - it's jobs. Membership of the biggest single trade market in the world has helped bring prosperity", he added.

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