Davidson ‘disappointed’ by Mundell’s sacking in Tory cabinet reshuffle

Boris Johnson will be “the last prime minister of the United Kingdom”, the SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford predicted yesterday. Mr Blackford said Theresa May’s successor was living in a “parallel universe” after he pledged to renegotiate a Brexit deal with Brussels, or take the UK out of the EU without a deal on October 31.

The comments came after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her Welsh counterpart wrote to Mr Johnson to say that it would be “unconscionable” for the UK to leave the European Union without a Brexit deal.

They also used their letter to argue that a “significant shift” is needed in relations between Westminster and the devolved administrations – calling for their governments in Edinburgh and Cardiff to be given “proper respect”.

Almost immediately after Mr Johnson entered Downing Street on Wednesday, SNP leader Ms Sturgeon stepped up calls for a second independence vote, telling him it was “essential” that Scotland has “an alternative option”.

Now she and Mark Drakeford, the

Labour leader in Wales, have written to him to make plain their opposition to a no-deal Brexit, saying: “It would be unconscionable for a UK Government to contemplate a chaotic no-deal exit, and we urge you to reject this possibility clearly and unambiguously.

“We are also clear that the decision on EU exit must now be put back to the people.”

Mr Blackford pushed the message home in the Commons yesterday, asking the prime minister if he truly understood the impact of a no-deal.

He said: “Scottish Government analysis has shown that a no-deal Brexit will hit the economy hard, with a predicted 8% hit to GDP, threatening up to 100,000 Scottish jobs.

“He wants to drive us off the cliff edge and he does not even know the impact of the damage that will cause.

“This is the height of irresponsibility — economic madness driven by ideology — from the prime minister, supported by his new right-wing ideologues on the front bench.”

Mr Johnson responded that Mr Blackford was “completely wrong in his analysis and his defeatism and pessimism about our wonderful United Kingdom, which he seeks to break up”.

He added: “If we can deliver a fantastic, sensible and progressive Brexit, which I believe we can, and the whole United Kingdom comes out, as I know that it will, what happens then to the arguments of the Scottish Nationalist Party?

“Will they seriously continue to say that Scotland must join the euro independently? Will they seriously suggest that Scotland must submit to the entire panoply of EU law? Will they join Schengen?

“Is it really their commitment to hand back control of Scottish fisheries to Brussels, just after this country – this great United Kingdom – has taken back that fantastic resource?

“Is that really the policy of the Scottish Nationalist Party? I respectfully suggest that that is not the basis on which to seek election in Scotland.

“We will win on a manifesto for the whole United Kingdom.” Ruth Davidson was last night said to be “disappointed” that Boris Johnson had sacked David Mundell as Scottish secretary.

Mr Mundell’s departure from Cabinet was interpreted by many as another sign of the simmering tensions between Ms Davidson and the new prime minister.

The Scottish Tory leader had hoped Mr Johnson would retain Mr Mundell as Scottish secretary, praising him for standing up against the SNP and protecting the Union.

Last night a source close to Ms Davidson said: “Ruth did talk up David as she thought Boris would benefit from his experience. And she is disappointed that he didn’t keep him on.”

Mr Mundell had been prepared to serve under Mr Johnson, despite

“The decision on EU exit must be put back to the people”

indicating previously that he would find it hard to work with the new prime minister.

Mr Mundell did not support Mr Johnson in the leadership contest, voted Remain and has opposed leaving the EU without a deal.

Those close to him said the Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweed MP was prepared to compromise in order to keep his job and take Mr Johnson’s claims that he favours leaving with a deal at face value.

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland yesterday morning, Mr Mundell refused to say if he would vote down a no-deal Brexit if it comes before the House of Commons.

Mr Mundell declined to give a straight answer, saying: “I am very clear I don’t think no-deal is a good outcome but on the other hand I am very, very clear we have to leave the EU.

“We have to deliver on the electoral mandate from the referendum, if not I think we face a severe dislocation to our political system.”

He confirmed that he would have been willing to continue in government, saying: “I’m not going to apologise for being willing to compromise, being willing to work with other people even though I have reservations about them.

“I have never been a cheerleader for Mr Johnson, I think people know that.

“But yes I would have been willing to work with him to secure Scotland’s place in the union and to deliver Brexit.”