Mundell: After Brexit Sturgeon much more difficult to deal with

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon became “much more difficult to deal with” after Brexit, former Scottish secretary David Mundell has said.

Mr Mundell appeared before Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee yesterday as it took evidence on intergovernmental relations in the 25 years since devolution.

The former minister, who served from 2015 to 2019 in the Scotland Office, said the Scottish Government was “unhelpful and disruptive” in the years following the vote to leave the EU.

An SNP spokeswoman said the Conservatives had “nobody to blame but themselves” for issues caused by leaving the EU.

“There is no doubt that over the period of time that Nicola Sturgeon was first minister of Scotland she became much more difficult to deal with,” Mr Mundell said.

While serving in the Scotland Office, Mr Mundell said he felt he worked “very effectively” with Ms Sturgeon, adding: “In the postBrexit period... Nicola Sturgeon became much more strident and difficult to deal with.

“She might well argue that was her standing up for Scotland or her agenda, but it became much, much more difficult.”

He said there was a period of “obstruction” after Brexit and a much greater sense of “Scottish exceptionalism”.

“In the latter part of my tenure, the view coming from Edinburgh was ‘we’re just going to do everything ourselves because we can’,” he said.

Mr Mundell’s comments came as it was revealed at the committee that Ms Sturgeon had asked to delay her appearance, due to take place next Monday.

David Mundell criticised Nicola Sturgeon before MPs.