LABOUR MPs who want to exit left from the EU stage are considering breaking away from the Vote Leave campaign over concerns they are being marginalised by right-wing officials.

Labour donor John Mills was replaced as chairman of the umbrella Leave group on Wednesday by Tory peer Nigel Lawson — who lives in France.

Vote Leave hopes the high-profile appointment will help it become the official EU Out campaign, at the expense of Nigel Farage’s rival Leave.EU group.

Mr Mills, who becomes deputy chairman, said he was “delighted” to secure Lord Lawson’s support and suggested it would free him up to appeal to Labour supporters.

He told the Star: “I think I’m in a better position to fight Labour’s corner than I was before, because as chair there’s a limited extent to which you can be partisan.”

But senior members of the Labour Leave campaign are furious Mr Mills has been “demoted” in favour of a former chancellor under Thatcher.

“Given that we need to win over Labour and socialists voters to win, how can we have a Tory grandee leading the campaign?” a source close to the campaign told the Star.

“Labour Leave’s position in the campaign is very difficult after this.”

Even before Wednesday, Labour Leave activists said they have found it difficult to work alongside the right-wing leadership of Vote Leave.

Taxpayers’ Alliance founder Matthew Elliott is chief executive, while campaign director Dominic Cummings is a former adviser to controversial Tory Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Of the 17-strong governing board, only two members — Mr Mills and MP Graham Stringer — represent Labour.

“The overwhelming majority of its members are senior Tory and Ukip officials,” said our source. “It’s totally weighted against us.”

A Vote Leave spokesman said the group did not recognise those claims.

But the Star understands that leading members of Labour Leave will meet next week to discuss quitting Vote Leave to establish a wholly independent campaign.

MPs, including Kate Hoey and Kelvin Hopkins, are said to favour the idea.

And Labour Leave general secretary Brendan Chilton said: “We are an independent campaign and we are looking at ways to make ourselves even more independent so we can appeal direct to Labour voters.”