SCOTLAND's political elite is failing the electorate by not debating the fundamental implications of independence on the country's future with Europe, a leading academic has said.

Professor Michael Keating accused both sides in the independence debate of playing "domestic political games" over the issue of EU membership.

He also accused Labour and the SNP of "exaggerating their degree of difference" on Europe in a bid to create differentiation on a policy platform that is otherwise remarkably similar. Addressing a crowded lecture hall at Glasgow University, the Aberdeen University academic urged politicians to come clean about what is really at stake.

"[Mr Salmond] was offered a question about independence which the political elite have insisted is clear cut. It's not," Mr Keating said.

"They've made it quite clear this will be independence in Europe. If Scotland is independent in Europe then in a sense it's not really independent at all."

He said key issues of sovereignty would remain out of Scotland's control such as currency.

Mr Keating, one of the country's foremost experts on European politics and nationalism, was speaking in a Glasgow University lecture series looking at controversial issues surrounding the independence referendum, run by the Stevenson Trust for Citizenship.

Mr Keating said: "The interesting thing here is to do with the details. On what terms does Scotland want to join Europe? What would its position be in Europe? What kind of Europe we are heading for."