BRITAIN has a moral duty to remain in the European Union to help thwart Russia's military ambitions, one of Scotland's leading experts on Europe has claimed.

Sir David Edward, a former European Court judge, warned Brexit would encourage Vladimir Putin in his expansionist efforts to "reclaim" Ukraine and the Baltic states.

Noting how Europe faced as dangerous a situation as any since World War Two with Russia led by an “unpredictable autocrat with ambitions,” the 81-year-old lawyer and academic, addressing an event organised by the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists' Association, said the fragmentation of the EU would encourage Russian expansion.

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"There are Russian submarines in the Baltic, there are Russian planes overflying Britain. It isn’t safe and we have a moral obligation to the Baltic republics and to other countries which escaped from the Russian clutch…to maintain the situation of political and economic stability in Europe."

Sir David’s remarks echoed those of Labour MP Dan Jarvis, who warned Brexit would be a “gift to Putin; weakening both Nato and the EU".

The former Army officer, who is often tipped as a future Labour leader, argued that Britain leaving the EU would “undermine vital efforts for peace and stability".

The Herald:

Today, the In-Out debate is likely to be coloured by the latest quarterly migration numbers from the Office for National Statistics.

These are expected to show net EU migration continuing at historically high levels; between 150,000 and 200,000. However, this number will not include temporary EU migrants - those staying for less than a year - which totalled around 250,000 in the year ending June 2014.

The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants warned that the publication of the latest figures should not be used to distort the In-Out debate.

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“Individual numbers, when taken in isolation, are poorly placed to show the positive impact that migration has had on the UK,” said Chai Patel, the group’s legal and policy director.

He added: “Migrant workers play an essential role in improving the economic position of the UK and are vital for our health service, our construction industry, our service industry and the technology sector.”

At Westminster, MPs were told by Tom Harris, director of Scottish Vote Leave, that the restrictions placed on non-EU migrants should apply to EU migrants, so that Britain could have the skilled workers it needed.

The Herald:

“Within the EU, we cannot manage or limit immigration,” declared Mr Harris.

The former Labour MP told the Commons Scottish affairs committee that SNP supporters were more likely to vote for Brexit because Holyrood would, by default if Britain left the EU, get new powers over issues like fishing and agriculture and be able to charge EU students for studying in Scotland.

“You can see why an SNP voter offered the chance for new powers for the new parliament would see that as an attractive prospect," he said.

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Committee chairman Pete Wishart later sought to press David Mundell, the Scottish Secretary, on whether Brexit would lead to a second independence referendum in Scotland. But the Secretary of State stressed that everyone’s energies should not be focused on this constitutional question but on getting the vote out for Remain on June 23.

He told the committee that he expected a “decisive vote” in Scotland for staying in the EU.

Elsewhere, Michael Gove, the Justice Secretary and lead Leave campaigner, claimed red tape from Brussels was costing UK taxpayers almost £1.7 billion a year by imposing "foolish" rules on the way public contracts were tendered for.

The Scot said the rules added "significant operational costs" and caused expensive delays to projects.

Tonight in Glasgow the first TV event of the campaign takes place with the BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire hosting a question and answer session aimed at young voters. The SNP’s Alex Salmond and Labour’s Alan Johnson will speak for Remain while the Conservatives’ Liam Fox and Ukip’s Diane James will speak for Leave. It is broadcast at 8pm.