YORK'S MPs have nailed their colours to the mast over Britain's future in the EU, revealing divisions among the area's Tories.

Although most of the region's MPs have feet firmly planted in both the Remain and Leave camps, one has yet to declare allegiance.

Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake has spoken of his concerns for businesses if the UK were to leave Europe, and argued the economic future is much more secure inside the EU.

He said: "My personal position is that this is very difficult decision but, whatever the public decides on June 23rd, life will go on and we will make the very best of result. I have no doubt that our economy will be successful in the medium to longer term. However, my concern has always been that a decision to leave would create significant uncertainty in the short term and may well lead to a recession."

Admitting that he wanted more significant reforms from the Prime Minister's renegotiations, Mr Hollinrake said he would nonetheless vote to remain in the EU while pushing for further reform.

York city centre Labour MP Rachael Maskell is also backing the campaign to stay in the EU, speaking of the jobs and money the EU brings York's crucial tourism and research jobs.

She said: "The future of decent jobs in York is tied up with us accessing EU funding and the largest trading block in the world, as well as the international platform that this gives us."

"Above all we live through the longest period of peacetime across EU member states. Our security is stronger in the EU as the European Arrest Warrant means that we can remove suspects and address cross-border crime and terrorism. 

Staying in the EU means Britain can "shape its future" rather than being tied by rules it has no say over, Ms Maskell added.

However, Selby and Ainsty MP Conservative Nigel Adams has used the economy to argue that his constituency - and Britain as a whole - would be stronger outside the EU.

He said European rules sped up the closure of Kellingley Colliery and power stations across the country, and continued to threaten jobs in the area.

Mr Adams added: "Over the last six years as an MP, I have on many occasions had meetings with ministers and civil servants to discuss a problem a local employer is having with policy that is threatening jobs and I too often hear the phrase ‘well, it’s EU law Mr Adams and there is nothing we can do about it.

"Even when our government decides to support businesses like Drax Power Station by helping it convert to biomass, the EU can and does challenge the decision."

Only York Outer MP Julian Sturdy is yet to voice his opinions, saying that he will be listening to constituents and local Conservative party members before declaring his hand next week.

He said: “This is a profoundly difficult decision for me personally, but it must be remembered that this is rightly a choice for the British people to make, not for politicians in Westminster.

“However Britain decides to vote on 23rd June it will define both our country’s and our children’s futures. It is certainly not an easy choice; if we vote to leave then we risk economic uncertainty and instability, and if we vote to remain then we continue to have limited control over our borders and will continue to be dictated to by unelected EU Commissioners."