Johnson commends the ‘awesome foursome’ to freedom-loving Scots
● PM praises Union’s global reputation ● Rejects any negotiations on indyref2
Boris Johnson has told “freedom-loving Scots” they can still be “proud” supporters of the UK as he ruled out allowing a second referendum on independence .
The Tory leader made an impassioned defence of the “wonderful, wonderful” union as he launched the Scottish Tories’ election manifesto in North Queensferry yesterday.
The document, entitled No to Indyref2, is focused on the Tories’ pledge to defend the union, with Mr Johnson insisting a second referendum would be a “tragic mistake”. Scots Tory interim leader Jackson Carlaw warned another campaign north of the border would be “brutal.”
Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to seek permission from the new Prime Minister for a section 30 order which would transfer power from Westminster to Holyrood allowing a second referendum to be staged next year – but Mr Johnson has ruled this out firmly.
“I can guarantee that we will reject any request from the SNP government to hold an independence referendum,” he said.
“There will be no negotiation – we will mark that letter return to sender and be done with it.”
Mr Johnson described the Union as a “wonderful, wonderful thing” and one of the world’s “great institutions”.
“As someone who travels a lot around the world I can tell you that the UK is loved and admired for many of its aspects, whether its the armed services or its foreign policy or defence of human rights or its defence and security services.
“But in every way in which people listen to and respect the UK it is because we act as four together – as the awesome foursome.
“And because Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland work together in that way, because we represent that flag, the red, white and blue flag – it is a brand which is understood around the world.”
The Tory leader added: “It would be a tragic mistake in my view to throw that away, to smash that up. You can be passionately Scottish, you can be a proud, proud freedom-loving Scot – but it is also possible to be a member and supporter of the United Kingdom. That is what we are fighting for at this election.”
But SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford branded Mr Johnson “unfit to be Prime Minister”.
He added: “Scottish voters should lock him out of Downing Street by voting SNP.”