COUNCILLORS in Southampton have voted in favour of the UK staying in the European Union.

The intensifying battle between the Leave and Remain camps spilled over into the Civic Centre council chamber during a fierce two-hour debate yesterday.

Labour’s majority told in the end as the motion in favour of remaining in the EU was passed.

With the poll on June 23 looming, council leader Simon Letts put forward a motion reading: “On the balance of the arguments this council believes it is in the interests of the city of Southampton for the UK to remain a member of the European Union”.

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stewart Dunn addressed the meeting with arguments from both sides of the argument, but stressing that the organisation was remaining neutral.

Labour leader Cllr Letts said that while he believed the EU "could do with a good dose of democratic accountability", that "at a time when we are fighting austerity giving the economy a kick in the nuts seems to me to be a poor strategy".

Conservative group leader Jeremy Moulton said: "The EU is becoming less democratic and it's heading in the wrong direction. Reform is zero."

He said money saved by leaving the EU could be used to "halve council tax for everyone in the country, halve business rates, scrap inheritance tax, cut the deficit, improve local services like pavements, roads and looking after older people”.

"We wouldn't have to make any cuts if we could redistribute that money”, he added.

Daily Echo:

Conservative leader Jeremy Moulton

In an emotional address, Labour's Sarah Bogle pointed to EU paternity rights and said universities were "terrified about the impact" of leaving, adding that her grandfather came to the UK from Germany in 1933, saying: "I'm glad we welcome people and that we continue to do so."

Party colleague Darren Paffey said 15,000 jobs in Southampton "depend on trade with the EU" while fellow Labour councillor Sue Blatchford presented a jar of water from Weston Shore, saying the quality of water had improved due to EU regulations.

Conservative David Fuller said immigration had an impact on GP appointments, school places and housing in Southampton.

Tory Matthew Claisse criticised the debate, saying the councillors were "sat at taxpayers' expense using officers time debating something we have no control over" and branding Labour "champagne socialists" for not representing the views of Eurosceptic party members.

However Cllr Letts said he believed it was important for the people of the city that the council debated it.

He added that "one man's red tape is another man's vital health and safety regulation", saying EU regulations and directives had improved employment and working rights for many.

In the vote all but one of Labour’s councillors voted for the motion, with Lee Whitbread abstaining.

All but three of the Conservatives voted against it, with Spiros Vassiliou voting for the motion and two others abstaining. Independent Andrew Pope and two of the three Councillors Against the Cuts also voted against the motion, with Keith Morrell abstaining.