Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson insisted yesterday that Britain would “on balance” be better off staying in the European Union.
She made the comments after Prime Minister David Cameron said he was “calmly and rationally” pursuing his reform agenda, but described the negotiations as “hard work”.
His remarks – made as the Conservatives gathered for their autumn conference in Manchester – prompted the SNP to claim the threat to Scotland’s place in the EU was “growing by the day”.
The party’s Europe spokesman Stephen Gethins MP said the prime minister appeared to be “running scared of Ukip”.
He added: “Last year David Cameron was telling us that the only way to protect Scotland’s membership of the EU was to vote No to independence.
“Now the prime minister has provided cheer to his Eurosceptic backbenchers by suggesting he could lead the campaign to leave the EU himself.”
He also suggested the comments would be “deeply embarrassing” for Ms Davidson, who revealed yesterday she had turned down a place on the board of the Better Off In EU referendum campaign organisation to focus on the Holyrood elections.
In a speech to activists, she said: “I declined. I reminded them I have the small matter of an election to fight in May – that’s my job and that’s what I am going to be concentrating on until then.”
She added: “I will turn my attention to the European referendum after May. I’m happy to go on TV programmes, I’m happy to talk about my own position – but I have made it clear it is my own position.
“My MSPs will have a free vote, the new incoming lot. I’m happy for them to be involved to whichever degree they want in whichever campaign they want should they wish.
“But I am not going to be taking part as a formal part of either of the campaigns.”
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has warned the prime minister must deliver “genuine and irreversible change” in Britain’s relationship with the EU.
He said the deal Mr Cameron comes back with would have to stand up to “the toughest scrutiny of all” or Britain would vote to leave in the planned referendum to be held before the end of 2017.