The borough’s political heavyweights have been having their say on whether Britain should leave the European Union.

A referendum on whether the UK should remain a member will take place on June 23, giving everyone the chance to vote.

We asked the town’s political representatives for their views on the hotly debated topic.

Coun Laura Jeuda, Labour councillor for Macclesfield South, has said she will vote to stay in the EU when the referendum takes place in June. She said: “It’s just a huge distraction, a smokescreen for what’s really happening in this country. David Cameron has achieved nothing with his negotiations in Brussels other than antagonising 27 other countries. I just don’t know how we’d manage being out of Europe. We need to think what we’d be giving up - enormous investment from overseas, employment and paternity rights.” Coun Rod Fletcher, leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, is also in favour of staying in the EU.

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Should the UK leave the EU?

He said: “I believe we’re better off in Europe for safety and economic reasons. If someone committed a murder in Macclesfield then moved to Spain it would be much easier to extradite them back to the UK and try them here if we were still in the EU. Personally speaking, it’s also much cheaper having an E111 health insurance card on holiday, I don’t think that would continue if we left.”

David Rutley, Conservative MP for Macclesfield, said he would review the details and listen to the views of residents before ‘setting out his position’. He added: “Since becoming an MP I’ve worked hard for a resettlement of the UK’s relationship with the EU and for other EU reforms.

“I’ve met parliamentarians in countries including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland and worked as the parliamentary aide for the Europe Minister.

“I’m now reviewing the details and will listen to the views of residents and businesses before setting out my position on the referendum.”

And Rachel Bailey, leader of the Cheshire East Conservative group who is in line to be the next council leader, said that she did not wish to comment on the issue until she had discussed it with the Conservative group.

You must be on the electoral register to be eligible to vote. Once registered, you can vote on the day at an official polling station on June 23.