THE two campaigns in the EU referendum took their case to Holyrood as MSPs debated the benefits and pitfalls of the EU.

As campaigners gathered outside promoting their respective cases, MSPs in the Parliament put forward their reasons for staying or leaving in the vote next month.

MSPs overwhelmingly backed a remain vote by 106 votes to 8.

The SNP backed a remain vote stating it was the best guarantee for workers’ rights and job protection.

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Christina McKelvie SNP MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse said “Scotland’s membership of the EU offers many benefits – with access to the single market good for jobs and investment, and the EU delivering employment rights, parental leave and protection against discrimination.

“And EU membership allows us to work across borders to tackle the great challenges of our age, from climate change to the refugee crisis.”

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Labour Leader Kezia Dugdale said the choice was between turning our backs on our neighbours or facing the world together.

She said: “The changes we lived through together in the first 60 years of our European family, in the 43 years since we joined, is nothing compared to the upheaval we are living through now.

“The shift of power and prosperity to the East, the spread of Jihadism, growing inequality, a more confrontational Russia, climate change, conflict within nations, the refugee crisis, disillusion with democratic politics and the rise of the far right and anti-European parties who fill that void.

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“This is a test for all of Europe, but all of Europe’s eyes are currently on us.”

Seven Tory MSPs and Labour MSP Elaine Smith backed the case for leaving the EU

Ms Smith however put forward what she said was a left wing case for voting to leave, distinct from the often heard right wing case which she said had “racist undertones”.

She said: “The EU is not Europe. It’s a political construct imposed on the people of Europe to undermine democratic national governments. It seeks the effective elimination of any genuine elective democracy and that runs contrary to the true definition of internationalism.

“Since its foundation the EU has had a clear direction of travel, opening up public services to privatisation, eroding collective bargaining and centralising power.”