A member of the audience participating in the first major debate on the European Union referendum blamed “insults” and “deflections” from politicians for not knowing how to cast his vote.

The BBC debate in Glasgow, hosted by Victoria Derbyshire, had an audience made up of 18-29 year-olds who were able to ask questions to a panel of politicians about the EU and Brexit throughout.

After two audience members participated in a frosty exchange over immigrants and housing in the UK, a 21-year-old man in the audience said to the panellists: “I just want to say to you all: here we are again. Once again we’ve got deflections, insults, petty name calling… Do you actually believe your own campaigns?”

Greeted with applause and laughter, he added: “What are we supposed to do? I do not have a problem admitting I have no idea what to and I blame you lot entirely for that.

There were four panellists in total, split equally among the Remain and Leave camps. On the Remain side was the SNP MP Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland, and Alan Johnson MP, a former Home Secretary during Gordon Brown’s premiership.

Arguing the case for Leave was Liam Fox, the Conservative MP and former Secretary of State for Defence, and Diane James, a UKIP MEP and party spokesperson on Justice and Home Affairs.

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Mr Salmond said that he did not buy into some of the "scaremongering" put out by the Remain side, but he added: "It wouldn't be economic apocalypse if we left the EU but there are more jobs and more choices if we stay in."

He added: "That's not the way to conduct referendum campaigns ... The remain campaign can't afford to lose one per cent a month, otherwise they will lose. To win a campaign to motivate people you have got to argue a positive case."

Ukip deputy chairwoman Ms James was challenged by host Victoria Derbyshire about whether a visa system would be introduced for travel to and from the EU in the event of Brexit.

She said: "Victoria, we just don't know because we have a prime minister who has said there is no Plan B, he has not presented a single bit of detail as to what happens if we vote to leave, he has left it completely open."

What has the EU ever done for us? Show all 7 1 /7 What has the EU ever done for us? What has the EU ever done for us? 1. It gives you freedom to live, work and retire anywhere in Europe As a member of the EU, UK citizens benefit from freedom of movement across the continent. Considered one of the so-called four pillars of the European Union, this freedom allows all EU citizens to live, work and travel in other member states. What has the EU ever done for us? 2. It sustains millions of jobs A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, released in October 2015, suggested 3.1 million British jobs were linked to the UK’s exports to the EU. What has the EU ever done for us? 3. Your holiday is much easier - and safer Freedom to travel is one of the most exercised benefits of EU membership, with Britons having made 31 million visits to the EU in 2014 alone. But a lot of the benefits of being an EU citizen are either taken for granted or go unnoticed. What has the EU ever done for us? 4. It means you're less likely to get ripped off Consumer protection is a key benefit of the EU’s single market, and ensures members of the British public receive equal consumer rights when shopping anywhere in Europe. What has the EU ever done for us? 5. It offers greater protection from terrorists, paedophiles, people traffickers and cyber-crime Another example of a lesser-known advantage of EU membership is the benefit of cross-country coordination and cooperation in the fight against crime. What has the EU ever done for us? 6. Our businesses depend on it According to 71% of all members of the Confederation of British Influence (CBI), and 67 per cent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the EU has had an overall positive impact on their business. What has the EU ever done for us? 7. We have greater influence Robin Niblett, Director of think-tank Chatham House, stated in a report published last year: “For a mid-sized country like the UK, which will never again be economically dominant either globally or regionally, and whose diplomatic and military resources are declining in relative terms, being a major player in a strong regional institution can offer a critical lever for international influence.

She added: "I don't believe we will need visas. It's all part of the Project Fear, it's about 'if we leave, all of a sudden Fortress Europe puts up the barriers and stops all of this happening'."

Her comments came after Labour In campaign chief Alan Johnson questioned whether visas would be necessary. "How are you going to differentiate between the Polish plumber and the Polish tourist? It means surely a system of visas and if you haven't got a system of visas then how are you going to deal with ... you are telling people we are going to stop free movement, but you are not going to introduce visas so free movement will still be there," he said.