Black Country and Staffordshire MPs speak out on EU referendum

And there are calls for the 'out' campaign to prove the economic case for leaving the EU.

MPs on both sides of the House of Commons have different views on the referendum.

But Labour has now officially dropped its opposition to the referendum.

Eurosceptic Tories, led by Stone's Sir Bill Cash are insisting the government establishes a 16-week 'purdah' period ahead of the referendum to stop EU institutions flooding the 'in' campaign with public money.

Labour, meanwhile, is asking for it to be made law that each government department must publish a report on the consequences of leaving the EU 10 weeks before the poll. The amendment is backed by Wolverhampton South East's Pat McFadden, Labour's shadow Europe minister.

Mr McFadden said: "It's very important for the public to know what exit from the EU would mean.

"It would have implications right across the board."

Labour is also calling for clarity over the government's plans for purdah, asking why it wants to change the usual rules that apply in the run up to elections.

The Tory rebels want to stop the Government from publishing any pro-Europe reports in the run up to the vote and for it to not be held on the same day as local elections.

Yet while as many as 50 MPs are expected to join the rebellion when Sir Bill's amendment is put to a vote, there are Eurosceptics who intend to support the plans as they stand.

Mike Wood, Conservative MP for Dudley South, said: "There's strong support for the Prime Minister looking for a renegotiation.

"What's important isn't the purdah rules, it's how the government behaves. They are not looking to take advantage of government spending."

He said if the referendum were held today, based on the current relationship with Europe, he would vote to leave but wanted to see what the Prime Minister comes up with.

Meanwhile Michael Fabricant, Conservative MP for Lichfield, says the no campaign must prove the economic case for leaving.

He said: "For those who are concerned about our membership of the EU there does need to be organisations both inside and outside Parliament who will fight a no campaign if the Prime Minister is unable to negotiate a good deal for Britain.

"The outs most argue the economic reasons for leaving Europe and demonstrate that the UK would be happier as part of a global trading partnership rather than in the EU which has a declining economy.

"I'm an outer. David Cameron said he wanted to be at the heart of a single market, not a Eurozone or super state. I agree with him. But we need to be able to negotiate and support trade deals with the US and growing economies in the Far East like China.

"I believe this is holding us back economically."