Scottish Tory MSP Margaret Mitchell backs EU exit

Margaret Mitchell MSP Picture: Neil Hanna

Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell said she supports a UK exit from the 'unwieldy' European Union.

Ms Mitchell is the first Holyrood politician to speak publicly in favour of leaving the EU but says she remains open to persuasion.

The Central Scotland MSP told the BBC: “I’m not looking at renegotiation. I think it would be a vote to leave because there are too many advantages of coming out and too many restrictions about staying in.

“The free movement of people doesn’t look to me as though it’s something that’s easily resolved.

“This is a union that’s increasing all the time - it’s unwieldy. Twenty-eight member states trying to make decisions that are in the best interests of each member state really doesn’t work.”

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson supports Britain staying in a reformed EU, saying the benefits of membership outweigh any disadvantages.

She said in a speech in Brussels last year: ‘’Any individual within the Conservative Party should be free to campaign on any side of the debate that they want.

“My MSPs know that they have already been given just that freedom.”