Boris Johnson has reportedly described Scottish devolution as a 'disaster' during a virtual meeting with Conservative MPs. The prime minister is said to have made the remarks in a Zoom call with Tory MPs representing northern English constituencies on Monday. According to The Sun, he told the MPs that devolution had been a 'disaster north of the border' and called it Tony Blair's 'biggest mistake'.
Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick defended Mr Johnson, stating he has 'always supported devolution'. However, Jenrick acknowledged that the prime minister believes devolution in Scotland has facilitated the rise of separatism and nationalism in the form of the SNP, which he sees as a threat to the Union. 'Anybody, like the prime minister, who loves the UK wants to keep it together thinks that that's a very, very dangerous and disappointing outcome that we need to battle against,' Jenrick told BBC Breakfast.
SNP MP Drew Henry criticised the remarks, accusing the prime minister of showing 'contempt' for the Scottish people. 'Effectively what they are saying is it's alright for Scotland to have devolution as long as they vote for the Westminster party we want them to,' he said.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross insisted the prime minister 'believes in devolution' and argued that the real problem is the SNP government's focus on independence. 'My efforts are focused on holding the SNP government to account, because they have failed. Any other discussion is a distraction,' Ross told BBC Scotland.
A Downing Street source issued a statement clarifying that the PM has always supported devolution but claimed that Tony Blair 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.
The comments come ahead of crucial Scottish Parliament elections next May, with the SNP currently the largest party. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called for a second independence referendum if her party wins, a move Mr Johnson has ruled out. In response to the reported remarks, Sturgeon tweeted: 'Worth bookmarking these PM comments for the next time Tories say they're not a threat to the powers of the Scottish Parliament.'
