A top Wycombe politician, who was slammed this morning for “ducking out” of a major EU referendum debate in High Wycombe this week, will now speak at the debate.

The BFP reported this morning that Conservative Wycombe MP Steve Baker was due to put the case forward for Brexit against former MEP Baroness Sharon Bowles on the remain side at All Saints Church on Castle Street on Friday – instead it was announced Labour MP for Luton North, Kelvin Hopkins, would take his place.

Mr Baker has confirmed there will now be a second remain speaker, long-time Wycombe Labour member Linda Derrick, alongside former MEP Baroness Sharon Bowles, so he too will speak at the debate and take questions.

This comes as leading remain campaigner Ian Morton from Wycombe in Europe criticised Mr Baker this morning for being "unwilling to defend his position in front of his own constituents".

In response, Mr Baker explained there had been a “slight miscommunication” between him and Mr Hopkins, who had been asked by Mr Baker to put the Brexit case forward at the debate some weeks ago.

Mr Hopkins had put the date in his diary but Mr Baker was unaware of this until recently.

He said: “We have got a rare opportunity to have a Labour MP speak at a debate like this. I think it will be helpful for people to have a perspective from the left, which is unusual in Wycombe."

To register for the debate, go to www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/eu-referendum-to-remain-or-leave-tickets-25446878298.