Voters will soon have to decide whether they wish Britain to remain part of the EU or to leave.

However, Ross-on-Wye’s local MEP says many people she speaks to in the course of her constituency work feel desperately short of unbiased information on which to decide.

That is why Anthea McIntyre is organising a special event in the area this week to answer people’s questions and try to provide the information they lack.

The Conservative MEP, who lives locally at Walford, said: “Voters feel bombarded with other people’s opinions about whether we should leave or stay. What they want is clear and impartial information.  I want to try to address that."

The public meeting will be held at the Larruperz Centre in Ross on the evening of Wednesday, January 6th.  It starts at 6.30pm and is scheduled to last an hour.               

Anthea is concerned that many voters feel completely lost when politicians and pundits from both sides of the in-out debate state their case with such certainty.  She considers it a particular problem when each camp presents a contradictory set of facts and figures to back up their arguments.

“I cannot blame the poor voters for feeling confused and ignored. It is as though they are caught in the crossfire,” she said.

“I want to hear their questions, understand what is puzzling them and get a feel for their own main areas of concern.

“As far as I possibly can I will answer dispassionately, and without bias, in good faith as their MEP.  I will try to set out both sides of the argument and assess the strengths and weaknesses.

“Where I give an opinion I will makes sure I say it is that -  I won’t try to dress it up as fact.”

If next week’s event in Ross is a success, Anthea plans to stage more meetings across her West Midlands region. “I see it potentially as a kind of referendum roadshow, but one that seeks to answer questions instead of selling certainties,” she said.

“This referendum will be one of the most important decisions voters make in their lifetime. I know that people feel under-informed about what the EU does and what happens in Brussels.

“I may not be able to answer every question but I will try my best, and if I can’t I will go find out.

“If people feel short of the necessary information in making such a crucial choice, I think we must do all we can to give them access to the facts.”