The SNP's "iron discipline" could crack after May's Holyrood election, with members possibly speaking out against the UK remaining in Europe, a former deputy leader has claimed.
Jim Sillars said he did not believe there would be "unanimity" among the party's MPs, MSPs and MEPs on the issue.
He also said he could "not understand" why the SNP is campaigning for the UK to remain in the European Union (EU) and that leader Nicola Sturgeon had been wrong to make a pro-EU speech in London.
The former SNP MP spoke out at the launch of the Vote Leave campaign in Scotland - though he stressed he is not a member of that organisation.
Mr Sillars joined Vote Leave Scottish director and former Labour MP Tom Harris on a visit to Port Glasgow, Inverclyde.
The veteran nationalist said he wanted the UK to leave the EU because this could make it easier for Scotland to become independent.
While the focus is currently on the Scottish Parliament vote on May 5, Mr Sillars said: "I am hopeful that after the election the iron discipline of the SNP will start to dissolve.
"Maybe after the election where this iron discipline has got be maintained, we'll get some people telling us what they really believe.
"I want Brexit for entirely different reasons from any other group campaigning at the moment, because I believe it will enable Scotland to become independent much easier than if we remain inside the United Kingdom inside the European Union."
In the run-up to the 2014 independence referendum, then then European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso had said it would be "difficult if not impossible" for Scotland to join EU
Mr Sillars said: "I personally do not understand why my colleagues in the SNP are arguing for the UK to remain inside the European Union.
"On the EU itself my fundamental objection, as well as having being told by them to get stuffed on independence, my fundamental objection lies in democracy."
He argued there is an "unelected central organisation" in the EU, saying: "When you had 12 member states and the veto was in operation for all member states over a large area of policy then the centre was constrained, when you have 28 members it strengthens the centre.
"That is why we have got unelected people in the commission - nobody elected the guy who is in now, nobody elected Barroso before him. It's an elite and a self selecting elite."
Mr Sillars added: "My objection to the SNP policy is that if we remain in the United Kingdom, which remains inside the European Union, then the next time we have a referendum on independence we will have the European Union on the Better Together side saying 'you can't get in, you can't get in', and therefore sowing uncertainty and fear."
Mr Sillars also said that "as soon as Nicola Sturgeon went south of the border to campaign for remaining in" she had legitimised David Cameron's position that the June 23 vote is a "whole UK referendum" .
The SNP leader has repeatedly warned that a second independence referendum could be triggered if Scotland votes to stay in Europe, but the UK as a whole votes to leave.
But Mr Sillars said:"She might have had more traction in her argument if she had stayed north of the border. As soon as you go south of the border and campaign there than you accept it's an all UK one."
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel