Frank hopes to persuade Scots to stay in the EU

Prime Minister David Cameron has pledged to hold a referendum into whether the United Kingdom should remain part of the European Union, which is likely to take place some time in 2017.

In the lead up to the vote Frank has been tasked with leading the campaign asking Scots to vote to stay in the EU as part of the larger Britain Stronger in Europe campign.

The campaign, founded by Conservative peer Will Straw, is sure to bring together some odd bedfellows with the Conservatives, Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrats and Green parties all supporting membership of the EU.

This is already the case at Stronger in Scotland where Frank will be aided by former SNP media director Kevin Pringle who is providing communications, having been on opposite sides of the divide during the Scottish independence referendum in 2014.

A spokesman said: “Britain Stronger In Europe is the UK-wide campaign making the case that we are stronger, safer and better off in Europe – reflecting the fact that this is a UK referendum.

“In Scotland we are promoting the case for keeping the benefits of EU membership from a Scottish perspective.”

At present public appetite to remain in the EU is split almost down the middle.

A survey carried out by YouGov survey found 51 per cent of people want to stay, while 49 per cent would leave.