Boris Johnson’s ‘anti-Scottish’ government driving independence support, says ex-Labour leader

UK government has ‘English nationalist outlook’, claims ex-Welsh Labour leader

Boris Johnson (PA)

Boris Johnson’s government is driving support for Scottish independence because of its “anti-Scottish” outlook, according to the former Labour first minister of Wales.

Carwyn Jones said Downing Street’s strategy was playing into the hands of the SNP, suggesting it would not be wise to block a second referendum on independence in Scotland.

“Boris Johnson is head of a government that is very English nationalist in its outlook,” MrJones told the Constitutionally Unsound podcast. “Very anti-Scottish, actually, and anti-everybody else from my perspective.”

He added: “If you keep on saying ‘no’ to democrats you give succour to people who are far more extreme … How do you say in the long term ‘no, no, no’ when people in Scotland keep voting yes, yes, yes? That’s a fundamental problem that can only end badly.”

Nicola Sturgeon wants to hold another referendum if her party wins a majority at the Holyrood election in May – promising to request a section 30 order from the UK government to hold a legal plebiscite.

However, Mr Johnson has made clear he has no intention of passing new powers to the Scottish government or allowing a second referendum to take place.

Mr Jones told the Edinburgh University podcast that “radical” constitutional reform was now needed in the UK, otherwise “there won’t be a UK in 10 years”.

He also criticised his Labour colleagues in Scotland for ceding patriotism to the SNP in the years after Labour was at the forefront of setting up the Scottish parliament and devolved government.

“They were a little bit reluctant to move onto that ground and say, ‘no, you can be proudly Scottish and yet not be in favour of independence’. That ground seemed then to be colonised by the SNP and those people who were devolutionists ended up as supporters of independence.”

Carwyn Jones and Nicola Sturgeon at British-Irish Council summit in 2018 (PA)

The former Welsh first minister’s comments come as it emerged Mr Johnson was told to create a new cabinet post entirely focused on keeping the union intact.

Lord Dunlop recommended a new role entitled ‘Secretary of State for Intergovernmental and Constitutional Affairs’ in a report submitted to the prime minister in November 2019, according to The Telegraph.

The former Scottish minister is said to have suggested the position be on the same level with the four great offices of state. But No 10 did not act on the report and it remains unpublished.

Earlier this month Mr Johnson’s government began looking for staff to bolster its “union unit” aimed at countering support for Scottish independence.

The Cabinet Office has advertised for four roles in policy and strategy, but knowledge of Scotland has not been deemed essential for the job.