A row has erupted after Boris Johnson reportedly condemned devolution in Scotland, saying it had been “a disaster north of the border”.
The prime minister claimed it was Tony Blair’s “biggest mistake” and that while he previously thought it was a good idea, he could not “see a case” for handing down more powers to Holyrood, according to The Sun.
Downing Street did not deny the remarks were made at a virtual meeting with northern Tory MPs, and a Number 10 source stepped in to clarify them.
Hollyrood was set up under the Blair government
But that did not stop a furious reaction outside Westminster.
Douglas Ross, the Scottish Conservatives leader, flatly disagreed with the assessment, tweeting: “Devolution has not been a disaster.
“The SNP’s non-stop obsession with another referendum – above jobs, schools and everything else – has been a disaster.”
Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, is likely to use the comments as ammunition ahead of next year’s Holyrood election, where – if the SNP wins a majority – she will press for another independence referendum.
Nicola Sturgeon has used the remarks to push for independence
She tweeted: “Worth bookmarking these PM comments for the next time Tories say they’re not a threat to the powers of the Scottish Parliament – or, even more incredibly, that they support devolving more powers.
“The only way to protect & strengthen the Scottish Parliament is with independence.”
The timing of Mr Johnson’s comments are particularly sensitive because the UK government is trying to pass its controversial Internal Market Bill.
The draft legislation, which apart from planning to break international law by overriding the Brexit deal, has also sparked concern Westminster will take back some powers from Brussels following Brexit that the SNP say should be devolved.
If the SNP win next year’s election, they will likely push for another referendum
Ian Murray, Labour’s shadow Scotland secretary, said: “The Tories have always been a bigger threat to the UK than any nationalist. Johnson with bells on.”
Attempting to quell the backlash, a Number 10 source said Mr Johnson “always supported devolution”, but that Mr Blair, under whom the Scottish Parliament was set up, “failed to foresee the rise of separatists”.
“Devolution is great – but not when it’s used by separatists and nationalists to break up the UK,” the source said.