Accusations of racism and personal attacks threatened to derail hustings held ahead of next week’s referendum.

The Selby Centre in Tottenham held an EU Question Time event tonight (Wednesday, June 15), eight days before the country goes to the polls to decide whether to leave or remain.

The panellists for Leave were Tom Hunt of Vote Leave, a Conservative councillor in Cambridgeshire and former Tory MEP candidate, Marc Glendening of Leave.EU, and Nisar Ahmed of Lexit, a left wing Brexit group, while arguing for Remain were Steve Hart from the main pro-EU group Britain Stronger In Europe, Michael Chessum from Another Europe Is Possible, a journalist and Labour activist, and Anuja Prashar, of Communities for Europe.

However the debate, attended by around 45 people, was often in danger of descending into farce with the audience particularly interrupting Remain speakers, accusing them of lying over the future of the economy if the UK leaves.

The evening, which followed mayoral hustings held in the same venue last month, were also almost derailed by accusations of racism over a failure to discuss the issue of ethnicity and immigration in the debate, while many questions were based around political standpoints, rather than on the EU.

On the Leave side, Mr Hunt said the main issue is with many EU laws originating from unelected commissioners, who set the motions which are debated in the European parliament.

He said: “There is a trend of more power slipping away from us. It is not a question of immigration, which has brought a huge amount to this country, and any colleague who disagrees I have no truck with.

“This idea that we have to choose between trade and democracy is ridiculous. The Remain campaigners seem to have had a problem with democracy themselves, not answering the questions put to them.”

Mr Glendenning added: “I am a turncoat, I used to believe in the European community, but that is why I am supporting the vote for leave.

“It is out of date, it is the 1950s idea that bigger is better, pre-globalisation. We should not be little Europeans just as we should not be little Englanders.

“The majority of our exports go outside of the EU. The pseudo-poseurs of the left are ignoring the issues. This is a Europe that is in decline.”

Mr Ahmed claimed the idea workers would lose rights if they choose to leave the EU is a myth.

He said: “The issues of minimum wage and equal pay have nothing to do with the EU, they were fought for long beforehand.

“Please rescue the idea of Europe from the EU, we need to put the internationalist case for Europe in order to stop the far right.”

However, on the Remain bench, Ms Prashar said the only way to improve the EU was to stay involved.

She said: “It is not just workers’ rights in the UK, it is about across the globe. The laws which are made in the EU are about harmonisation, they are about standards.

“We should take responsibility for these, and not scapegoat Europe for that.

“Where we can do better locally, we should, and all nations of the EU accept this. That is why we remain important and influential in the EU.”

Mr Hart meanwhile said a vote for Remain is a vote for “solidarity and hope”.

He said: “We live together, work together, love together. We will not be bullied. I am for a Europe with a solid strategy for change.

“I want Europe to be reformed, and I want us to remain in order to do it, and stand up for worker’s rights.”

Mr Chessum added: “This referendum is not your chance to take a shot at the establishment, it is if you want to give the keys to people who will cut down rights that are enshrined by EU law.

“People all over Britain and the EU have to get together and fight back.”