SPECIAL REPORT: Robin Walker backs staying IN the EU - and pens open letter to city voters spelling out why

After weeks of deliberations, Robin Walker has officially put himself in the 'in' camp after saying the risks of a Brexit are not worth taking.

He has taken the step of saying he needs to “be able to look people in Worcester in the eye” and believe he voted in their best interests, despite admitting it would surprise some people in his party given his Eurosceptic views.

Your Worcester News can also reveal how all of south Worcestershire's MPs are doing the same - with some signing up to a growing group called 'Conservatives Reform in Europe' after the weekend’s events.

On Saturday Mr Cameron announced that on June 23 voters will head to the polls for an historic poll on whether the nation remains in the European Union or breaks away.

The Prime Minister claims to have secured "special status" within Europe, with last week's package of reforms following days of pressure-cooker negotiations in Brussels.

Three weeks ago Mr Walker admitted he was in two minds about what to do, saying he could not guarantee Mr Cameron his support.

Today, he said feedback from the likes of Worcester Bosch and Mazak - who have spelt out to him the risks to British businesses - has made his mind up.

"This is not a decision I have taken lightly - there are strong arguments on both sides and I respect those who will disagree with me," he said.

"I think it's profoundly important everyone in Britain has their say and I'm proud to have played a small part in securing it.

"At the end of the day I'm now comfortable that fighting Britain’s corner in a reformed and changing European Union is a better option than taking the risk of coming out.

"I have no doubt the debate will rage hotly in Worcester as around the country - but it's my mature judgement based on experience and pragmatism rather than ideology that we are now better off staying in."

He has also taken the step of writing a 7,000-word letter going into detail on why he backs staying in – extracts of which are published below.

It follows an article by Bromsgrove MP and Business Secretary Sajid Javid in the Mail on Sunday yesterday, who said he was backing the 'in' campaign with "a heavy heart" and "no enthusiasm".

Mr Javid said he felt "we should never have joined the European Union" and called it "a failing project", but also cited severe risks to UK businesses and jobs under the economic shock of a break-up.

West Worcestershire MP and City Minister Harriett Baldwin has also called an Brexit "a leap in the dark" and insists she too could not contemplate backing the out group.

"David Cameron has secured a special status for the UK in the EU,” she said.

“We enjoy the best of both worlds - sovereignty over our currency and interest rates, sovereignty over budget matters as a non-euro country and we are not part of the border-free Schengen area.

“But our farmers and businesses get access to an enormous market and we can choose to live, work, study, travel freely and own property in the EU with the same protections as at home.

“Many jobs in Worcestershire and the UK hinge on this free movement of goods, workers and services around the EU.

“Those advocating leaving the EU have not, to my mind, been able to show how they would retain the benefits of free trade in a single market.

"Nor have they shown how we'd be able to influence future changes to EU laws that would affect us, nor how they would reduce the cost of membership, nor even how our borders would be safer if we left.

"David Cameron has shown how to stand up for Britain's interests in Europe, while Messrs Galloway, Carswell and Farage can't even agree what ‘out’ looks like.

“Would you really want to leap in the dark with them?”

Mid-Worcestershire MP Nigel Huddleston said he would "respect" the out group but firmly backed staying in, claiming "a true single EU market" can only be shaped from within, a view shared by Wyre Forest MP Mark Garnier.

On Saturday six Government Cabinet members revealed they would back the 'out' campaign including Justice Secretary Michael Gove, Work and Pensions boss Iain Duncan Smith, Commons leader Chris Grayling and Employment Minister Priti Patel, as well as Culture Secretary John Whittingdale and Northern Ireland Secretary Theresa Villiers.

Boris Johnson has now joined them - using a Commons debate today to call Mr Cameron's fears "wildly exaggerated".

In an astonishing response, Mr Cameron launched an attack on the Mayor of London by hinting he was backing a Brexit for his own personal leadership ambitions.

Speaking to MPs this afternoon, he said: "I won't dwell on the irony that some people want to leave in order to remain."

He added that "such an approach also ignores more profound points about democracy and diplomacy".

“I do not know any [couples] who have begun divorce proceedings in order to renew their wedding vows,” he said.

"I am not standing for re-election, I have no other agenda other than what's best for our country."

SO WHAT’S IN ROBIN WALKER’S LETTER?

Worcester’s MP listed five key themes for his reasoning to back the ‘in’ camp, including Britain’s place in the world, its economy, the sovereignty of parliament, security and the changing nature of Europe.

An edited extract is below - but to read all of his themes and the open letter in full, go HERE.

Dear constituents,

"Politics is a messy business", said Edmund Burke. Few quotes could be more appropriate to the complex arguments and difficult decisions that feed into this year’s EU referendum.

To say that I have thought long and hard about this would be an understatement.

Changing Britain’s relationship with Europe was one of the things that fired up my interest in politics, it is something that has been a constant of my political career from my first days as a volunteer.

I remain a Euro-sceptic, questioning the so called 'project' and keen to assert the UK’s sovereignty, our ability to make our own decisions.

However in this referendum, which I am proud to have played a part securing, I will be voting to remain.

My decision is my own and each of my individual constituents of voting age will have the opportunity to make their minds up for themselves but I feel as a representative it is only right I should explain.

Many factors feed into this.

Britain’s place in the world is one and I have always said that I am an internationalist, the economy is another and both sides in the debate have made claims with which I disagree, but this must surely be a crucial factor.

Sovereignty and the ability of our country to get is way is a third and this is where the Prime Minister’s negotiation can play a crucial role.

Security, and our ability to control our borders is an important factor but by no means the only one.

Finally, the very nature of Europe, that grand project which has changed so much during my lifetime and is changing still.

But most importantly of all for me, I am MP for a place I love and care about.

My vote will be determined most of all by the place that I represent and the impact that I feel leaving or staying would have on Worcester.

Britain is one of the best placed countries in the world when it comes to international networks and international reach.

Through our maritime history, our language and our cultural and legal legacy we have a network in every continent of the world.

We have been, since the sixteenth century at least, a global trading nation.

As each decade passes and the world becomes a smaller place, the advantages of this grow.

Anyone who tells you the UK is no longer a major power is lying.

We are the fifth largest economy in the world with a soft power network that even the Americans and the Chinese envy.

Crucially we are the country in the continent of Europe that attracts the most outside investment and that invests the most in the wider world.

Much of this could be a seen as a good argument for Brexit and I will admit that there have been times when I have argued that case.

However, experience has taught me otherwise.

Having met with business people, politicians and trade organisations from around that wide world, having discussed with them their relations with Britain and their views on our relationship with the EU, it is clear to me that we are best placed to help our friends in the wider world as an active member of the EU.

I have no doubt whatsoever that we can continue to be a strong global player in our own right even if people chose to leave.

But the question for me is where are we best off and where do we have the best opportunity to help ourselves and our friends and that, I believe is by staying in.

There are many in the Brexit camp who argue that we can have all the benefits of the single market with none of the costs by leaving the EU and negotiating a free trade agreement.

This is on the surface a fair point and, as it is true that the EU area sells more to us than we sell to them, it is certainly the case that it would be in their interests to keep trading with the UK.

However the experience of countries that have done this has not been great.

Most businesses that do a substantial amount of their business there want us to have a voice at the table.

If we can do so in a way that supports our interests and theirs, we should benefit from it.

I continue to press for change and to be sceptical that the EU has the answer to all or indeed many of our problems.

As someone who is proud to be MP for a city I love, the place I grew up and care about passionately, I need to be able to look people in Worcester in the eye and say I believe I voted in their best interests.

Although in this debate my vote will count no more than any other in Worcester, I could not hold my head up high if I believed I had taken the wrong decision on such an important matter.

I could not forgive myself if my decision to leave led to jobs being lost locally or businesses reducing investment.

Robin Walker.

* Worcester News poll finds 54% want to LEAVE the EU

* Worcestershire MP attacks the European Union - calling it "too big, too bossy"

* Robin Walker asks Cameron for time to make up his mind over EU as county MPs react to reforms