‘Eurosceptic’ Westminster threatens Scots EU place

Europe and international development minister Humza Yousaf said the threat of an in-out referendum could see Scotland “dragged out of Europe against our will”.

During a debate at the Scottish Parliament, the minister will argue that a vote to leave should require a majority in each of the UK constituent countries.

Mr Yousaf is expected to say: “Scotland’s place in Europe is in grave danger because of the eurosceptic agenda dominating Westminster and the resulting threat of an in-out referendum.

“Being dragged out of Europe, potentially against our will, would be disastrous in terms of the effect on jobs and investment.

“That is why people need to speak up now and why we believe that for the UK to leave the EU it should require not just a majority across the whole UK, but a majority in each constituent part of the UK - Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland - a ‘double majority’.”

Mr Yousaf said the EU accounts for almost half of all Scotland’s international exports, worth about £13 billion a year, while around 40 per cent of foreign companies in Scotland are EU-owned.

“All of that would be put at risk by the referendum planned by Westminster, which is dancing to Ukip’s anti-European tune,” the minister will say.