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PMQs: Johnson is ‘the biggest threat’ to the union, Starmer charges

BORIS JOHNSON is “the biggest threat to the future of the United Kingdom every time he opens his mouth,” Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told MPs yesterday.

Sir Keir asked the Prime Minister during Prime Minister’s Questions why he had said Scottish devolution was “a disaster.”

He said: “Devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is one of the proudest achievements of the last Labour government. 

“Until now, whatever our disagreements, there has been a very broad consensus about devolution.”

Mr Johnson deflected the questions by shifting the blame to Tony Blair’s Labour for not predicting the rise of the Scottish National Party.

He called the SNP’s use of devolution powers to run the country and their call for independence a “disaster.” 

Sir Keir said: “The single biggest threat to the future of the United Kingdom is the Prime Minister every time he opens his mouth.

“When the Prime Minister said he wanted to take back control, nobody thought he meant from the Scottish people. The Prime Minister’s quote is very clear – he said devolution has been a disaster north of the border.

“This isn’t an isolated incident, whether it is the Internal Market Bill or the way the Prime Minister sidelined the devolved parliaments over the Covid response, the Prime Minister is seriously undermining the fabric of the United Kingdom.”

Sir Keir said that instead of “talking down” devolution, the PM should agree to“far greater” devolution of powers and resources across Britain.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said the PM’s comments were “not just flippant remarks” but a “slip of the Tory mask.”

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