A FORMER senior military figure from Hampshire says the UK is less secure within the European Union.

Retired Rear Admiral Conrad Jenkin says he is backing Brexit due to concerns over a European army, the number of laws drafted in Brussels and immigration.

However opponents from the Stronger In campaign have said that claims about an EU army and federalisation are "straightforward scaremongering".

Rear Admiral Jenkin, who served with the Royal Navy for 42 years, has criticised the EU's "pathetic" response to the Ukraine crisis and says the UK would be better off leaving and solidifying its links with NATO.

He rejected claims by those wishing to remain in the EU that Brexit would result in less cooperation on security between the UK and other European nations.

The 87-year-old, who lives in West Meon and saw action in the Korean War before standing down prior to the Falklands War in 1981, said: "What is to say that we will not have that if we come out?

"British intelligence is second to non, they will not want to cut off their access to that.

"The EU's track record in security is abysmal, and it is not a global power other than in trade.

"I have three main issues - I want to be able to say who is invited to our country and who isn't; I wish to be able to make our own laws; and I want to be able to vote out any Government."

He said he was also concerned that staying in the EU could result in the UK being part of a federal state He added: "Virtually every single thing which the EU does in the security and defence fields, from trying to make Britain give up its seat on the Security Council, to interfering in our Intelligence organisation, to trying to construct a European army, makes this country less secure, not more so.

"To reverse this trend, we have to leave the EU and concentrate on reinforcing our links with NATO."

Responding, Damian Green MP, former Immigration Minister and board member of Britain Stronger In Europe, said: “Independent experts overwhelmingly agree that Britain is more secure in Europe. That includes NATO itself, whose Secretary General has on a number of occasions spoke of the enormous importance to European security of co-operation between NATO and the EU.

“The EU facilitates invaluable information sharing between member states. There’s nothing to suggest that would continue if we left and blithe assertions to the contrary are simply not good enough.

“To dismiss all that, raising the spectre an EU army, federalisation and absurd claims about the UN Security Council is straightforward scaremongering.”