SOUTH Dorset MP Richard Drax has criticised Chancellor George Osborne for his "irresponsible" threat to raise taxes in an emergency budget should Britain vote to leave the EU.

Mr Drax, a supporter of the Vote Leave campaign, said he was "astonished" at the Chancellor's claims he will have to raises taxes and slash spending in an emergency post Brexit budget.

He said: "To suggest that he would be forced to increase income and other taxes in the case of a vote to leave the EU is disingenuous at best.

“People are calling this a ‘punishment budget’, and rightly so. If you dare to vote leave, Mr Osborne will make you pay.”

He added: “The truth is, he won’t and he can’t. If we do vote leave – and I fervently hope that we do – there will be no change.

"And, should he try, there are significant numbers of Conservative MPs who will vote with the rest of the House against him.

"This is an irresponsible and unworthy threat and I am astonished that he would make it.

“This is the latest in a litany of scare stories and follows the Prime Minister threatening to reduce pensions last week.

"I distinctly remember voting in the House for a triple lock system to protect our pensions in law, precisely so that politicians can never tinker with them as they please.

“It’s important to remember that this referendum is supposed to tell the Government what the people think – not the other way around. By holding the entire country to ransom – blackmailing us essentially – the 'remain' side is losing the argument.

“It’s a matter of principle. We should vote leave for the country’s future as an independent and sovereign state and we will prosper.

“Last ditch and desperate threats like this by vested interests deserve to be ignored."