A SENIOR MEP has warned the SNP it would be “stupid” for an independent Scotland to adopt a Norway-style European model where the country is in the single market but not a EU member.

Philippe Lamberts, co-chair of the Greens-European Free Alliance, spoke out after it emerged the SNP may be considering ditching its long-held principle of independence in Europe in favour of a looser relationship with the bloc. But he advised against the move, saying it would mean an independent Scotland having to pay into the EU budget and comply with EU laws, yet having no influence over them.

“The Norwegian position is not a very interesting one because they have to behave as a full EU member without being one,” he told The National.

“They have to contribute to the EU budget, they are in the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice, they have to apply EU laws, but they don’t sit at the table and make the rules. I find it a bit stupid.”

He added: “If ultimately an independent Scotland wants to be a member in all but name, well then, be one, rather than actually not be one but be subject to all the obligations.”

The SNP was yesterday accused of trying to “buy off” voters by reportedly planning to drop full membership of the EU as a key part of the campaign for Scottish independence.

The Times reported senior SNP figures want a Norway-style model enabling an independent Scotland to remain in the single market via the European Free Trade Area and European Economic Agreement, not full EU membership.

A senior SNP source confirmed to The National that discussions were happening in the party over what sort of relationship an independent Scotland would have with the EU.

“The proposition for independence is still being worked upon," the source said. "How can we possibly say it’s going to be vote yes in order to remain within the EU, that might not work with the timing? What we put forward to the people of Scotland may well need to be a halfway house in order to get where we want. All of these options are on the table.”

The issue of EU membership could open up a divide between the SNP and the Scottish Greens, who also support independence.

Ross Greer, external affairs spokesperson for the Greens, said his party continued to support an independent Scotland being a full EU member. “Scotland is a European nation and we voted convincingly to stay in the EU," he said. "Workers’ rights, environmental protections, our NHS and universities all benefit massively from EU membership."

“Greens are clear that an independent Scotland with its own seat at the European table would be able to play a leading role in tackling the big issues of our time: from the refugee crisis and climate change to regulating the banks and curbing the influence of big business.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie claimed the SNP was trying to appease Yes voters who want to leave the EU, while “abandoning” those who voted to remain.

He said: “By abandoning full membership of the EU it is clear the SNP are crudely attempting to buy off the hundreds of thousands of Brexit-supporting Yes voters. Yet with this act they are also abandoning 1.6 million people who voted to stay in the European Union. The SNP are using the Remain voters to demand an independence referendum but are quick to sell them out to keep the independence movement unified.

“They know that many Brexit voters would not back independence if it meant rejoining the EU. So they ditch Europe to make gains on independence.”

“If Scotland were to leave the customs union we would not have the same benefits that we have enjoyed as a member of the EU. An independent Scotland being semi-detached from both the UK and the EU would make Brexit look like a picnic.”