TORY claims the UK is sleepwalking into an unaccountable and undemocratic European superstate have been labelled "paranoid nonsense" by a fellow Conservative.

South East MEP Richard Ashworth hit back at Conservative grandee Sir Andrew Bowden's comments that further European integration would turn the UK Parliament into a powerless "county council" within the next 50 years.

Former Brighton Kemptown MP Sir Andrew warned the country needs to leave the EU now or face being pulled into a "United States of Europe".

It is the latest so-called blue-on-blue clash between fellows Conservatives over the EU in an increasingly fractious campaign which has seen Tory backbenchers threatening a leadership revolt.

The spat also comes as Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell finally nails her colours to the mast in declaring her support for the Leave campaign.

She joins fellow Sussex Conservative MPs Henry Smith, Tim Loughton, Maria Caulfield and Nus Ghani in backing Brexit.

In an interview with The Argus, Sir Andrew rubbished Remain campaign claims that reform of the EU was possible claiming the UK had not influenced "a single major change in policy" in 40 years.

Sir Andrew, a Council of Europe member for 10 years, added: "There is no great dispute that it is only a matter of time before Europe forms a United States of Europe.

"When that happens it will mean if we are still in, that we will lose complete control of our foreign policy, defence, taxation, our expenditure and our economy.

"The British Parliament will become the equivalent of a county council.

"This won’t happen in my lifetime, quite possibly in the next generation but virtually certainly within the lifetime of my grandchildren."

The president of the Brighton and Hove Leave campaign said while there would be turbulence in the aftermath of Brexit, the problems of staying in the EU were greater.

Richard Ashworth MEP described descriptions of an "unaccountable" EU as nonsense, explaining all decisions were ratified by either 750 elected MEPs or 28 elected Prime Ministers in the European Council.

He added David Cameron’s “deal” negotiated in February prevented further integration while several members including the UK, Ireland and The Netherlands would all seek referendums before further national powers were transferred.

He added: “The idea of a United States of Europe is a myth which has run for such a long time.

“This notion of the EU as a supranational country that wants to take away our nationality and out identity, it’s just paranoia, it’s impossible.

“I’m frankly astonished that it can be claimed the UK has changed nothing in the EU; the single market, the incorporation of ten former Warsaw Pact countries, the first ever reduction in the EU budget, the UK made all that happen and it’s the UK that is driving change now.”