A YORK MP has accused pro Europe campaigners of political stuntsmanship, after they turned up at his constituency surgery to air their fears about Brexit.

Campaigners from York for Europe went to Leave-supporting MP Julian Sturdy’s surgery on Friday evening.

There they delivered a letter saying they felt they had no voice with the Government pushing ahead with “Brexit at any cost”, and confronted the MP with a “wall of silence” to drive home their point.

Their letter says that with many York Outer constituents working in industries that could suffer heavily from Brexit, they are angry Mr Sturdy has been voting with the Government despite fears for tourism, higher education, and healthcare.

“As the implications of Brexit start to bite, people in York Outer will be asking what actions you took to help stand up for them and they will be holding you to account.”

It also accuses Mr Sturdy of only speaking up on agriculture - an area he has a personal interest in - and says while this is to be applauded they are dismayed he has not done the same on other aspects of Brexit.

However, Mr Sturdy has hit back saying the group were more interested in a political stunt than genuinely engaging with him.

He said: “I am always more than happy to listen to the views of my constituents, but I feel that had this group asked for a surgery appointment like everyone else who attended on Friday we would have been able to have a longer and more useful discussion.”

York for Europe’s Charlotte Yates said she tried but was unable to make an appointment with Mr Sturdy, and the group feared leaving it until his next surgery at the end of March would mean the crucial Brexit vote in the Commons has already passed.

Mr Sturdy's office disagrees with this, saying that he would have met with her, had the purpose of the meeting been explained.

Mr Sturdy added: “I have already corresponded and met with several members of this group, and have made clear I am always ready to take up any specific concerns they have with Ministers on their behalf. The fact they have not taken up this offer suggests to me this was a political stunt rather than a genuine attempt to engage with me.

“I was disappointed to read the letter presented to me, which was a clear misrepresentation of my work for York Outer in Parliament. I am not remotely ashamed of drawing on my real-life professional knowledge of farming to help inform decision-making on the new agricultural policies that will come as a result of leaving the EU, and it is simply false to say this is the only aspect of Brexit I have devoted my time to.”

The group were part of the national “Stop the Silence” campaign, about people who did not vote for Brexit, or the version of Brexit being pursued by the Government.

Ulrike Bulle, who lives in Dringhouses, is one of the signatories on the letter to Mr Sturdy and her story is among those they set out for the MP to read.

She said the situation at the moment left her unsure of her future in the UK, a country she has adopted as her home.

“We did not vote for families like mine to face the terrifying prospect of being torn apart,” she wrote. Other European citizens living the the area spoke of their anger at being denied a vote in the referendum, and further fears were raised for the future of academic research, access to ground-breaking medicines, and the educational and employment opportunities of young people in York. Fellow campaigner Paula Widdowson added: “We don’t feel that Julian Sturdy is taking the welfare of his constituents seriously and, by not fighting for the best outcome for his constituents he is failing to do his job.”