The SNP will share platforms with its political opponents in the fight to stay in the EU, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.

Mr Swinney said the party had yet to come to a view about whether it will officially join any multi-party campaigns, but he told BBC Radio Scotland that it will not join forces with the Conservatives.

He added that while the SNP will seek to have its own "distinctive position" in the EU referendum, it will speak alongside people from other parties on occasions.

The campaign to keep Britain in the EU held its formal launch on Monday, supported by former prime ministers Sir John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

There has been speculation that the SNP will distance itself from the Britain Stronger in Europe group, while Nicola Sturgeon has previously stated that she would not share "cross-party platforms" with other political parties.

Mr Swinney said: "We have yet to come to a final view about whether we'll participate in any multi-party campaigns, but I think it's pretty clear from my view of all this that we won't be participating in a campaign with the Conservatives.

"I think that if we want to get a successful pro-EU vote out of Scotland, then I think the Scottish National Party needs to be in a very active, visible, distinctive position to encourage people to vote to remain in the European Union.

"I am quite sure there'll be areas where we will share platforms, we'll speak alongside people from other political parties, but our desire is to make sure that we have a strong clear distinctive voice in the European referendum campaign that motivates people in Scotland to see that there is a long-term future for Scotland to remain in a member of the EU."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said the SNP must clarify its position.

He said: "It is ludicrous for the SNP to take a 'mibbes aye, mibbes naw' approach to the campaign to keep Scotland and the UK part of the EU.

"It is down to all of us who think that we are better off in Europe to make the positive, aspirational case for our EU membership.

"The SNP should end the uncertainty, clarify their position and put their country before narrow party interest."