DOMINIC Raab has claimed that Boris Johnson’s “optimistic fizz” will save the Union.
The Foreign Secretary told Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday he rejected any suggestion that his boss could be the person that breaks the Union.
Raab said: “If you look at the approach we are taking, we want to be making really clear the impact that the UK has as a government, as a country, in all parts of the UK, and that includes in Scotland.
“I always want to make sure we are one United Kingdom and we get this debate, we keep coming back to it, but I think if you look at the economic benefits, cultural togetherness, our clout on the international stage, we are much better as one United Kingdom.”
Nicola Sturgeon has fared better in opinion polls than Johnson during the coronavirus pandemic, with a poll from earlier this month finding 74% of Scots felt the SNP leader had done a good job – while 49% of people in England agreed. Meanwhile a tiny 12% of Scots think Johnson has handled the pandemic well. South of the Border, that figure is 42%. This has sparked fears that the future of the Union is at risk.
WATCH: Dominic Raab says Boris Johnson's 'optimistic fizz' will save the Union
Raab added: “I think what we need to do much more powerfully is make the positive case for it. I think if you look at referendums and elections recently there’s been a bit of ‘project fear’ that crept into all of them. I think we need to be more full-throated and heartfelt in making the case for the Union … and I think Boris Johnson is singularly well-placed because of that optimistic fizz he has about himself, and his leadership style, to make the case for the Union in that way.”
It comes as leading historian Sir Tom Devine said Johnson’s visit to Scotland last week proves the Tory Government fears Sturgeon “has behaved more capably” in tackling the pandemic and that “the future of the entire Union is at stake”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel