POLITICALLY-minded students have taken a stance on the in-out referendum on UK membership of the European Union.

Sixth formers at Northallerton School and Sixth Form College voiced their opinions in a forceful school debate.

Both sides were represented by students with Joe Lambert, 18, presenting the case for the “Out” vote, and Abbie Grange, 17, and Ewan Cameron, 18, fronting the opposing “In” campaign.

Joe said: “I wanted to get people talking about the EU referendum so I suggested to our student council that we hold a debate.

“I expected about ten to 12 people to turn up so I was very surprised to see the lecture theatre full of 60 or more students and staff.”

He argued: “Britain needs to regain its independence. The fact is that people who dictate our laws in Brussels are not elected by us and we do not have any power to remove them.”

Abbie, of West Rounton, voiced that the UK needed to stay within the EU to protect its economy and trade markets with Europe.

“If we left the European Union then we would still have to abide by their laws but we would not be at the table to decide upon them,” she said.

The result was a narrow win for the In campaign.