THE Liberal Democrats claim there is a stark choice for voters tempted to back other parties in the European election later this month.

Senior figures got the party's campaign under way by claiming the SNP is now fundamentally unattractive on the EU, while the Tories and Ukip could pull Britain out, damaging jobs and the economy.

George Lyon, the party's only MEP in Scotland, said: "We're giving people a very stark choice. Ukip and the Tories clearly want to walk out, the SNP puts our place in Europe under threat through their independence plan, and Labour will hardly lift a finger to defend our place in the EU."

He was joined by Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael and Scottish party leader Willie Rennie to formally start his campaign for re-election.

The trio chose to promote their cause during a visit to a whisky-bottling plant on the outskirts of Edinburgh.

Mr Lyon focused the campaign message in response to the looming independence referendum on September 18.

Sending another SNP MEP to Brussels would not help Scotland maintain its level of support after independence, he claimed.

And he questioned claims in the Scottish Government's White Paper on independence which suggest full EU statehood can be achieved within 18 months of a "yes" vote.

He said: "I believe the Scottish referendum and a vote for independence is indeed the first and biggest threat to our relationship with the EU.

Labour and the SNP launched their European campaigns last week.

Labour leader Johann Lamont said the campaign should not be seen as an extension of the referendum campaign, while First Minister Alex Salmond said that Westminster representation in the EUn had "let Scotland down time and time again".