UK’s PM Johnson calls Scottish devolution a ‘disaster’

UK’s PM Johnson calls Scottish devolution a ‘disaster’

Boris Johnson has described the devolution as former PM Tony Blair's biggest mistake.

Boris Johnson has reportedly promised to get the largest financial commitment to UK infrastructure in 70 years. (AP pic)
LONDON:
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the granting of greater powers of self-governance to the Scottish parliament a ‘disaster’ during a call with Conservative MPs, The Sun reported on Monday.

Johnson described Scottish devolution as former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair’s biggest mistake, the report added.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon took to Twitter in response to Johnson’s reported comments.

“Worth bookmarking these PM comments for the next time Tories say they’re not a threat to the powers of the Scottish Parliament  or, even more incredibly, that they support devolving more powers,” her tweet said.

The only way to protect and strengthen the Scottish Parliament is with independence, she added.

Under UK’s delicate constitutional balance, semi-autonomous parliaments and governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland known as the devolved administrations have powers over areas like education, health, policing and justice.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross tweeted, saying devolution is not a disaster.

“Devolution has not been a disaster. The SNP’s non-stop obsession with another referendum  above jobs, schools and everything else  has been a disaster,” his tweet said.

During Johnson’s call with 60 Conservative MPs, he also promised to pump billions more into infrastructure, telling they will get the largest financial commitment to infrastructure in 70 years, the report said.

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