Leave campaigners within Labour have accused its MPs of failing to properly represent its eurosceptic supporters and members.

Former Labour business minister Nigel Griffiths, who is campaigning for Brexit as part of Labour GO, said 92 of the party’s MPs should by rights be backing a Leave vote.

Polls suggest around 40 per cent of Labour voters are backing a Leave vote, but the party’s 232 MP parliamentary caucus is overwhelmingly in favour of EU membership.

“Millions of Labour voters believe that Brussels has betrayed our steel workers and manufacturing and our farming and fishing communities - taking £10 billion net every year. Our money is being spent on the infrastructure and citizens in other countries instead of here,” Mr Griffiths said.

“Many Labour voters are appalled that our NHS, schools and roads are short of money because we give Brussels £10 billion. They want their Labour representatives on their side on this, one of the most important issues of our time.

“And Labour voters fear the consequences of the new EU/USA trade treaty TTIP, being negotiated in secret, which threatens to allow private contractors in the NHS and railways to block attempts to return their services to the public sector.”

“Anyone who thinks the EU is protecting workers' rights is living in the past - Brussels has forced zero hours contracts on Greece. Ireland was forced by the EU to abandon free collective bargaining, as savage wage cuts were imposed as a condition of their bail-out. The Viking Line judgement threatens hard-won rights of UK trade unions.”

The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit Show all 7 1 /7 The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 22 May 2015 In his regular column in The Express Nigel Farage utilised the concerns over Putin and the EU to deliver a tongue in cheek conclusion. “With friends like these, who needs enemies?” PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 13 November 2015 UKIP MEP for Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Mike Hookem, was one of several political figures who took no time to harness the toxic atmosphere just moments after Paris attacks to push an agenda. “Cameron says we’re safer in the EU. Well I’m in the centre of the EU and it doesn’t feel very safe.” Getty Images The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 19 April 2016 In an article written for The Guardian, Michael Gove attempts to bolster his argument with a highly charged metaphor in which he likens UK remaining in the EU to a hostage situation. “We’re voting to be hostages locked in the back of the car and driven headlong towards deeper EU integration.” Rex The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 26 April 2016 In a move that is hard to decipher, let alone understand, Mike Hookem stuck it to Obama re-tweeting a UKIP advertisement that utilises a quote from the film: ‘Love Actually’ to dishonour the US stance on the EU. “A friend who bullies us is no longer a friend” The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 10 May 2016 During a speech in London former work and pensions secretary Ian Duncan Smith said that EU migration would cause an increasing divide between people who benefit from immigration and people who couldn’t not find work because of uncontrolled migration. “The European Union is a ‘force for social injustice’ which backs the ‘haves rather than the have-nots.” EPA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 15 May 2016 Cartoon character Boris Johnson made the news again over controversial comments that the EU had the same goal as Hitler in trying to create a political super state. “Napoleon, Hitler, various people tried this out, and it ends tragically.” “The EU is an attempt to do this by different methods.” PA The most scaremongering arguments for Brexit 16 May 2016 During a tour of the women’s clothing manufacturer David Nieper, Boris had ample time to cook up a new metaphor, arguably eclipsing Gove’s in which he compares the EU to ‘badly designed undergarments.’ “So I just say to all those who prophecy doom and gloom for the British Business, I say their pants are on fire. Let’s say knickers to the pessimists, knickers to all those who talk Britain down.” Getty Images

Other than some outspoken voices such as Kate Hoey, Frank Field, and Gisela Stuart, few Labour MPs have been publicly campaigning for Brexit.

But Harriet Harman, former interim leader of the party, today said Labour had in fact appeared too equivocal in its support for Remain.

“Labour strongly believes that it’s in Britain’s national interest to remain in the European Union,” she said at a joint press conference with David Cameron, Tim Farron and Natalie Bennett.

“I want people who back Labour and Labour values to know why Labour backs us being in the EU.

“It’s not surprising that Labour supporters have struggled to catch a glimpse of why Labour backs the EU as the media has been dominated by the row in the Tory party.”

Mr Corbyn, who has previously criticised the EU but is backing a Remain vote, skipped that rally.