NEWPORT West MP Paul Flynn has claimed the Conservative Party has erupted into “civil war” following the announcement Tory ministers are to be given a free vote in the EU referendum.

David Cameron made the surprise announcement earlier this week, saying Conservative ministers would not be bound by collective cabinet responsibility on the issue and would be free to campaign and vote according to their own views.

Long-serving Labour MP for Newport West Paul Flynn, who has said he is in favour of the UK remaining part of the EU, has said the announcement has created “civil war” within the ranks of the Conservative Party.

“They are split down the middle,” he said.

“The battle commences today – we are going to see eight or nine months of civil war in the Conservative Party, who seem to be more divided on this than any other issue.”

But his claims have been rubbished by Gwent’s only Tory MP – member for Monmouth David Davies – who said: “The Conservative Party is not going to tear itself apart over this issue.

“We are putting it to a referendum, the people will decide and we will be bound by that decision.

“This isn’t the 1990s and anyone who thinks there will be civil war will be disappointed.”

Mr Davies added he had “a reasonable idea” of how he would vote in the referendum, but was not prepared to publicly state his position.

“I am concerned, as I think many MPs are, about the way British laws can be overruled by the EU, which is in the end an unelected body,” he said.

“I will need to be persuaded of the case for staying in.

“But I don’t think it’s wise for MPs to set out their views beforehand.

“If we want to get a good deal out of them (the EU) we need to give them a fair chance to deliver something for us.”

Gwent’s other MPs – all of whom represent Labour – have also said they plan to campaign for the UK to remain a member of the EU.

Torfaen MP Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “Whilst I am certainly in favour of reforming the EU I believe that remaining within the European Union is far better for jobs,” he said.

Both Blaenau Gwent MP Nick Smith and his Islwyn colleague Chris Evans have also said they are concerned leaving the EU would damage Welsh businesses.

The Welsh Labour group have argued the country would lose out on £838 million worth of businesses every year if the UK left the EU and almost 200,000 jobs would be lost.

A date for the referendum has not yet been announced, although it must be held before the end of 2017.

Newport East MP Jessica Morden was not available for comment.