LUTON North MP Kelvin Hopkins made the socialist case for leaving the EU at a packed-out TUC fringe meeting yesterday — and called for eurosceptic Labour MPs to be allowed “a free vote” on the issue.

Mr Hopkins was addressing the Trade Unionists Against the EU fringe meeting when he was confronted by comments from shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn — who told the Today programme Labour would campaign “in all circumstances” to stay in.

Mr Benn’s stance contrasts with that of his famously eurosceptic father Tony Benn, who opposed the transfer of powers from Britain’s Parliament to the undemocratic bloc.

Mr Hopkins said he was surprised by the comments and believed Labour MPs would be allowed to follow their consciences if they wished to campaign against membership of an EU.

The EU, with its troika partners the European Central Bank and IMF, has imposed crippling spending cuts, privatisations and attacks on collective bargaining rights in successive European countries including Greece, Romania and Ireland.