THE MP for Torfaen has criticised Vote Leave campaigners during a parliamentary session, claiming that a lack of financial support from the European Social Fund will hit his constituency.

Nick Thomas-Symonds responded to a speech from the MP for Sedgefield, Labour’s Phil Watson, where both politicians queried the claims that EU funding would be matched if the UK decided to leave the EU.

The EU referendum will take place in less than a week, with the entire UK population voting to submit its view on the country’s continued membership within the European Union.

“My constituency of Torfaen, like his constituency of Sedgefield, benefits tremendously from European Social Fund money,” said Mr Thomas-Symonds in the debate.

“Does he agree with me that it simply isn’t credible for the leave campaign to simply say one day ‘we will replace that money’ without any sense of where they will get that from?”

Mr Watson agreed with the Torfaen MP during the parliamentary session, and said: “The Leave campaign have said don’t worry about it, they can pick up the tab…

“Don’t listen to them, they can’t do it. It’s the biggest con ever.”

The comments from Mr Thomas-Symonds follow on from a letter signed by government ministers, including Priti Patel, stating that every region and recipient of EU funding would continue to get the money if the country votes to leave the EU on June 23.

He added: “The Leave campaign are trying to spin a dangerous fantasy to the people of Wales. The only way to guarantee the £1.8bn of EU funding for Wales is to remain in the EU.

“I hope the Welsh people know better than to trust people like Iain Duncan Smith and Michael Gove who have brought such misery to Wales with their vicious cuts and disastrous policies like the Bedroom Tax.”

The Monmouth MP David Davies, who is campaigning to leave the EU, said: “Every week we send around £350m (gross) to Brussels, which is money that could be better spent here in the UK on local priorities.”

A planned rally for Remain campaigners in Caerphilly tomorrow has been postponed following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox.