The UK could “thrive” if it voted to leave the EU, according to the SNP’s Europe spokesman.
North East Fife MP Stephen Gethins pledged to make a positive case for staying in the EU but attacked so-called Project Fear tactics about the negatives of breaking with Brussels.
He was appointed as deputy campaign director for the SNP’s Remain campaign as party leader Nicola Sturgeon confirmed she would not campaign alongside Prime Minister David Cameron even though both want the same outcome in the referendum.
“We have to have an honest debate,” said Mr Gethins. “The UK could thrive as an independent country outside of the EU but, on balance, where our needs are met best is being part of Europe.
“It’s no secret that the SNP would rather Scotland was able to play our part in the European family of nations as an independent member state – but we are equally clear that it is better for Scotland in all circumstances to stay in and we will work tirelessly to make that happen.
“It’s also vitally important that those campaigning to retain our place in Europe learn lessons from the independence referendum.
“The ‘in’ campaign must ensure that it does not allow itself to lapse into the scaremongering and fear agenda we saw from the No campaign in Scotland.”
Mr Gethins highlighted issues “from the refugee crisis to climate change” as reasons for the UK to Remain and “play our partrather than standing on the sidelines”.
In a speech at St John’s Smith Square in London on Monday, Ms Sturgeon said she does not want Scotland to become independent as a result of UK withdrawal from the EU.
The First Minister reiterated her claim that there was a “real chance” of a second independence referendum if Scots were forced out by English votes.
But she said the interests of a future independent Scotland would be best served by having a neighbour to the south that was a member of the 28-nation bloc.
Ms Sturgeon said she was targeting an “overwhelming” vote to remain in the EU in the June 23 referendum and called for an “uplifting” and “positive” campaign to stay.
And she insisted there was “no contradiction” between believing in independence for Scotland while also supporting membership of the EU.
Ms Sturgeon said Scotland had long experience of choosing to pool some of its sovereignty with neighbours for mutual advantage, in a process which she described as “the way of the modern world today”.
Scottish Conservative chief whip John Lamont said: “In the independence referendum campaign, people were bombarded with leaflets warning them that the NHS would be wrecked if they voted No. Now Nicola Sturgeon has the brass neck to preach to the rest of the UK about the need to avoid scare tactics.”
Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said she would happily share a platform with the First Minister in the fight to keep the UK in the EU.
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to be positive about protecting our place in the EU but she has spent the last month or so making grim predictions on the assumption that the referendum will be lost.”