Boris Johnson has given a dead pan reaction to Nicola Sturgeon’s attempt to stage an independence referendum in October 2023.
The Prime Minister seemed determined not to set himself up as punchbag for independence as he answered questions on the referendum plans.
Asked if he would block plans for a referendum, Johnson answered: “Let’s put it this way, our plans better economy works better when the UK is together than when it's isn’t together.”
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Speaking while travelling to the Nato summit, the PM took a diplomatic tone, and added: “Let’s see what she has to say about it. The point I’d make is that we think the number one priority for the country is the economic pressures.
"Our plans for a stronger economy means we think we’re are stronger working together. We have good relations with the Scottish Government, let’s see what she has to say."
After the First Minister’s speech the Prime Minister’s spokesman said Downing Street would “carefully study” the Scottish Government’s proposal.
A No 10 spokesman said: “Our position remains unchanged that both ours and the Scottish Government’s priority should be working together with a relentless focus on the issues that we know matter to people up and down the country.
“That remains our priority, but a decision has been taken by the First Minister, so we will carefully study the details of the proposal, and the Supreme Court will now consider whether to accept the Scottish Government’s Lord Advocate referral."
Asked whether the Prime Minister would open negotiations for independence in Scotland if Scots vote for it in a referendum in October 2023, the official said: “We’re obviously not going to get into hypotheticals”.
The spokesman was not sure whether Johnson had received a letter from Nicola Sturgeon, but said the Prime Minister “continues to think it’s not the time to be talking about a referendum, but as I say, it’s important that we carefully study the details of the proposal and it’s for the Supreme Court now to look at the Lord Advocate referral”.
Labours Shadow Scottish Secretary was less diplomatic.
Ian Murray MP said Sturgeon’s push for an independence referendum in 2023 will keep the Conservative Party in power at the next general election.
Scotland’s only Labour MP tweeted: “She’s given the game away.”
“The FM says ‘we must rid our country of this Tory govt’, But we will use the next general election to keep them in power.”
“Scottish politics is paralysed and this dead cat (independence referendum) strategy is to deflect from this FM’s appalling record in government.”
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