Scotland’s most Eurosceptic MSP will back the UK staying in the EU, The Courier can reveal.
The decision of Alex Johnstone, who represents North East Scotland for the Conservatives, means it is more likely all 128 serving Holyrood members will argue for a Remain vote come June.
Senior Tory sources said Margaret Mitchell may support a so-called Brexit, but the Central Scotland MSP remained tight-lipped last night.
It came as David Cameron attacked Boris Johnson in the House of Commons in the pair’s first public interaction since the London Mayor publicly backed a Leave vote.
In a reference to Mr Johnson’s apparent ambition to succeed him as PM, Mr Cameron told the Commons he had “no agenda” other than Britain’s interests.
Mr Johnson asked his leader “to explain to the House and to the country in exactly what way this deal returns sovereignty over any field of law-making to these Houses of Parliament”.
Mr Cameron replied: “This deal brings back some welfare powers, it brings back some immigration powers, it brings back some bailout powers, but more than that, because it carves us forever out of ever closer union, it means that the ratchet of the European court taking power away from this country cannot happen in future.”
His renegotiation deal was savaged by some in Brussels, though, as government figures revealed recent European migrants claim 10% of in-work benefits for low-paid workers, even though they only make up 6% of the workforce.
“Cameron is getting done up like a stuffed turkey,” said one MEP.
“He doesn’t realise how awful it is. He has boxed himself into every single corner going because of his ignorance of the EU. He has been fundamentally badly advised.”
A number of Mr Cameron’s Cabinet colleagues have broken ranks to declare their preference to Leave.
Mr Johnstone, however, argued the “greatest achievement any Prime Minister has achieved gaining power back from Europe” was on the table.
He told The Courier: “The European Union is a failing project but Britain needs to be a fundamental part in turning it round from being a failure.”
Mr Johnstone added he would be making the Eurosceptic case for staying in, having previously pledged to back a Brexit if David Cameron did not change “the direction of travel” on the EU.
Meanwhile, credit ratings agency Moody’s has warned the economic costs of a decision to quit the EU would outweigh the benefits.