EU referendum: Summer vote would not give enough time for 'big issues' to be debated, says Nicola Sturgeon

Scotland's First Minister warns snap vote risks allowing those in favour of a 'Brexit' to 'steal a march'

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met the Scotland rugby team at Bute House on Tuesday (Getty Images)

A summer referendum on whether the UK should remain part of the EU would not allow enough time for the “big issues” to be properly debated, Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday she revealed she was “increasingly concerned” that David Cameron may call a snap vote.

The UK Government’s narrow focus on renegotiating the country’s position in the EU risked “selling the pass” on the big economic and social arguments for remaining part of the bloc and might allow those in favour of leaving to “steal a march”, Scotland’s First Minister warned.

“I am increasingly concerned by reports – and they are just reports at this stage – that the EU referendum could be held as early as June if there is an agreement struck at the European Council in February,” the SNP leader said.

“The concern is because if that is the case it would leave barely four months, including the period of the Scottish election, for the public to fully engage and for the arguments about EU membership to be heard fully.”

Ms Sturgeon, who is in favour of the UK remaining part of the EU, said the In campaign should learn the lessons of the Scottish independence referendum and seek to find a “positive vibe”. “My fear is that if the In campaign runs the same kind of campaign as the No campaign in the Scottish referendum they could find themselves overtaken,” she added.

The SNP leader spoke out as her predecessor, Alex Salmond, told the House of Commons that a summer referendum on the UK’s role in Europe would overshadow May’s Scottish Parliament election and would be “disrespectful” to voters.

If the two elections were held within six weeks of each other “the two campaign periods would intersect, with all the complications that would arise”, Mr Salmond warned, pointing out that voters in Northern Ireland, London and Wales are also set to go to the polls on 5 May.