Former First Minister Alex Salmond has accused David Cameron of failing to provide a positive vision for the UK to stay in the European Union.

Polls suggest that the UK could accidentally crash out of the EU as a result of the Prime Minister's pledged referendum.

While surveys show a majority of Scots support staying an 'In' vote, the outcome could be a close in England where more than 80 per cent of the UK's population lives.

A day after Mr Cameron claimed an 'Out' vote could lead to migrant camps in the south of England, Mr Salmond attacked both sides of the argument, accusing them of conducting a "deeply depressing, pointless, pathetic, puerile campaign which will inspire no-one.”

He singled out the Conservative leader for putting forward a “teeny, weenie vision of nothing much at all".

The ex-SNP leader also quoted the Dr Seuss’ Cat in the Hat, to the delight of fellow MPs, during a parliamentary debate urging ministers not to call a June referendum.

The SNP argues that the date would clash with campaigning for elections taking place in Scotland, Wales, London and Northern Ireland in May.

Speaking in the Commons , Salmond told ministers he did not want then to name the day.

Quoting from the Dr Seuss poem, he added: "When you've mislaid a certain something, keep your cool and don't get hot. Calculatus eliminatus is the best friend that you've got.

"Calculatus eliminatus always helps an awful lot. The way to find a missing something is to find out where it's not."

He added: "The anti-Europeans chance of winning has always been if the campaign is reduced to a competition of scare stories, a war of attrition to find out who can tell the biggest porkies.

“That is exactly what is unfolding before our eyes. It is as if the Better Together campaign from the Scottish referendum had split in two and were running two versions of Project Fear from opposing sides in the Euro poll. At this rate the only thing these campaigns will scare is the voters away from the polls.

“At the end of the day Cameron is gambling this country’s entire European future on his sham negotiation and this shame of a campaign."

Democratic Unionist Party deputy leader Nigel Dodds told the Commons football would be the focus for voters if the Government opts to hold the vote during Euro 2016.

But a Conservative former minister told Mr Cameron: "Bring it on."

Sir Edward Leigh insisted those wanting a 'Brexit' believed they would win.

MPs will get a vote on the date of the In/ Out referendum.

The government's preferred date is expected to pass as the Conservatives have working majority of 16.

Labour have also said that they support a vote as soon as possible.

Ministers are understood to fear that any delay could increase the chance of an 'Out' vote, especially with the growing migrant crisis on Europe's borders.