A former Scottish secretary insisted last night the UK must extract its foot from the “bear trap” of the European Union before the country “bleeds to death”.
Conservative peer Lord Forsyth of Drumlean criticised the Remain campaign for arguing Britain should stay in amid fears it would be “so painful” to leave.
He also offered a £10 note to anyone who would give him £20 in return to illustrate his conviction the EU does not represent value for money.
To “sweeten the deal”, he said he would throw in another £3 next year if he was allowed to dictate how it should be spent.
That was Britain’s deal from the EU, he insisted, only it was not a case of £10, but £10billion.
The pro-Brexit campaigner was speaking during a debate at St Columba’s Church of Scotland in central London.
He asked: “Would we join the EU today? I think probably not.
“It’s a bit like walking in the woods and seeing a bear trap. There’s a bear trap there that’s open. Do you put your foot in it? No.
“Although the Remain campaign are saying our foot is already in the bear trap and it’s going to be so painful to extract our foot that we really ought to stay in it.
“So let’s just stay in and bleed to death.”
Lord Forsyth also disparaged the fruits of David Cameron’s efforts in securing a better deal for the UK.
He said the prime minister had been on a “hiding to nothing”, adding he might as well have been asking St Andrews to stop playing golf and instead switch to tennis.
He added: “That’s how impotent we have become.”
Labour MP Kate Hoey, also speaking in favour of a Brexit, said the PM should be “ashamed” of himself for “doing down our country”.
But Tory MP Harriett Baldwin argued that a vote to Remain was the best decision for the UK economy.
The economic secretary to the Treasury said the UK would never join a country called Europe, but pointed to the benefits of access to the single market.
She affirmed that the UK had secured a special status and thwas able to enjoy the “best of both worlds”.
Paisley-born Labour MP Pat McFadden, also arguing for Remain, said the EU had grown out of the ashes of war.
He raised concerns about the constitutional implications of a vote to leave on June 23.
He added: “We can’t assume we can vote to leave and everything else stays the same.
“(Scottish) nationalist politicians have been clear if there is a vote to leave, that would make a second referendum on Scottish independence much more likely.”