CLIMATE change and energy bills are the latest battleground in the fight over whether the UK should remain in the European Union or not.

A senior Conservative politician told students at a Hampshire university that the country’s membership plays a key role in reducing the cost of energy bills and tackling climate change.

But one of his rivals from the Brexit camp, also a high-ranking Tory, says membership is "irrelevant" to energy prices and the UK would have more influence on the world stage leaving the EU.

Lord Bourne, parliamentary under secretary for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), visited the University of Southampton to discuss June 23’s referendum.

During the visit he spoke to students, saying that being part of a bloc of European states in the EU helps in the fight against climate change.

He said that being part of the EU allows the whole continent to “negotiate effectively” with the United States, China and other nations to shape the global policy such as the Paris Agreement which became the first universal, binding global climate change plan.

Lord Bourne, whose responsibilities in DECC including advising the government on energy efficiency and climate change, also claims leaving the EU would cause energy bills to rise and make the country’s businesses less competitive.

He said: “I really enjoyed visiting Southampton University – it was a privilege to speak to such bright young people about the upcoming EU referendum and the huge impact it will have on all aspects of our lives, including on energy and climate change.

“Being in the EU will not only help keep Southampton residents’ energy bills low, it also makes it easier and cheaper for the UK to tackle climate change than if we were acting alone.

“It is incredibly important that young people’s views are heard and I am urging everyone to turn up and vote on June 23.”

However MP George Eustice, minister of the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, pictured, has attacked Lord Bourne's claims.

He said: “In many areas the EU has actually undermined the UK’s position on the international stage because we have already been stripped of our voting rights on many international conventions on the marine environment and, extraordinarily, it is now unlawful for the UK to speak at many wildlife conventions without first getting the permission of the EU.

“If we leave the EU we will regain our seat at the table.

“The UK has taken action to secure its energy supply and EU membership has no relevance to energy prices.

“However there is an emerging agenda in the EU to create an obligation on us to bail out other EU countries that have failed to plan effectively for their own energy needs.”

The deadline to register to vote for the EU referendum is on June 7.

Anyone wanting to register to vote can do so online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote using their National Insurance number, date of birth and address.