Boris: Blair’s biggest error was ‘disaster of devolution’
PM tells Tory MPs he sees no case for new powers
DEVOLUTION has been a ‘disaster’ and was Tony Blair’s biggest mistake, Boris Johnson has told colleagues.
The Prime Minister made the controversial comments in a call with northern English MPs.
It threatened to spark a new row with the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who last night insisted devolution has not been a disaster – but the SNP’s obsession with independence has been.
Nicola Sturgeon immediately seized on the comments to make the case for independence and claim that the Prme Minister is a threat to the power of the Scottish parliament.
Sources close to Mr Johnson last night tried to limit the damage by insisting that he was referring to the fact devolution has been ‘used by separatists and Nationalists to break up the UK’.
The comments came in a Zoom call with 60 Northern MPs which he made while he is in self-isolation.
He said that ‘devolution has been a disaster north of the Border’ and said it was ‘Tony Blair’s biggest mistake’.
He also told MPs that he did not currently ‘see a case’ for handing down more powers from Westminster to the devolved nations.
But a Number 10 source said: ‘The PM has always supported devolution but
‘Used by separatists and nationalists’
Tony Blair failed to foresee the rise of separatists in Scotland.
‘And leaving the EU means we must strengthen and protect the UK economy with the UKIM (United Kingdom Internal Market) Bill.
‘Devolution is great – but not when it’s used by separatists and Nationalists to break up the UK.’
The comments come only days before the Scottish Conservative conference is due to get under way.
Responding, Mr Ross said: ‘Devolution has not been a disaster. The SNP’s nonstop obsession with another referendum – above jobs, schools and everything else – has been a disaster.’
Following Mr Johnson’s comments, Miss Sturgeon said on social media: ‘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 and strengthen the Scottish parliament is with independence.’
But John Lamont, Tory MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, wrote: ‘Nicola – the threat to devolution is not the Prime Minister but the SNP. The SNP want to scrap devolution by taking Scotland out of the UK. Independence will finish devolution.’
Mr Ross is due to use the Scottish Tory virtual conference, which begins on Friday, as the launchpad for the Scottish Tory push towards next year’s election – following bleak recent polling for the party.
Earlier this month, Mr Ross said that the Prime Minister may be the reason support for independence has soared in recent polls.
In an interview with ITV News, he was pressed about the Prime Minister’s negative approval ratings north of the Border at the same time as support for independence rises and asked if Mr Johnson is harming the case for Scotland staying in the UK. Mr Ross said: ‘You can’t say that the people of Scotland are absolutely wrong with their ratings on their various leaders, so we’ve got to reflect on that. The Prime Minister reflects on that. He gets these opinion polls as well, he’s not blind to opinion in Scotland.’
Mr Ross also used a keynote speech to the Policy Exchange think-tank in London to warn that the UK Government’s handling of Brexit has undermined the case for the Union for many Remain voters in Scotland.
Shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: ‘This confirms that Boris Johnson doesn’t believe in devolution and would put the future of the United Kingdom at risk. His Government should have been working in partnership with the devolved governments during this crisis. Instead, people across the UK have been paying the price for his failings.
‘Devolution is one of Labour’s proudest achievements and we will always fight for a strong Scotland in the UK. Scotland deserves better than two governments obsessed by division – Labour will work to bring our country together.’
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson will field Prime Minister’s Questions by
‘Put future of the UK at risk’
video link tomorrow as he tries to ‘ reset’ his government while self-isolating.
Downing Street has had talks with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle about allowing Mr Johnson to take questions from his flat, where he is due to be quarantined for another ten days after a meeting with an MP who developed the virus.
The Prime Minister will also press ahead with the launch of his tenpoint plan on the environment in the wake of the acrimonious departure of Dominic Cummings and press chief Lee Cain last week.