As so-called minister for the union, Boris Johnson has been the real disaster for devolution

Editorial: If the system has turned into a catastrophe, then it has a lot to do with the way the prime minister and Michael Gove have behaved in office

daily-cartoon (Dave Brown)

Christmas is a time for giving, they say, and Boris Johnson has generously donated to the Scottish National Party the gift that keeps on giving – an unequivocal expression of English contempt for Scotland. In the opinion of this quintessential Bertie Woosterish Old Etonian, “devolution has been a disaster north of the border”, and Tony Blair’s biggest mistake (presumably exceeding the Iraq War). As Nicola Sturgeon has already stated, the unguarded remark has been duly bookmarked and will be referred to constantly in the months leading up to the Scottish elections in May. 

The SNP and the cause of independence have been making popular progress in recent months, and post-Brexit chaos and the prime minister’s big mouth will no doubt push things even further Ms Sturgeon’s way. The unflattering contrast between blundering Mr Johnson and the cooly efficient Ms Sturgeon has been especially highlighted during the coronavirus crisis. Although the overall performance of the various parts of the UK haven’t wildly diverged, it is Mr Johnson who looks the least decisive and most accident-prone.