THE former head of the Better Together campaign says there will be another independence referendum if Scots want one – but has called for Boris Johnson to stay out of the debate.

Blair McDougall, who led the No campaign in the 2014 referendum, said he agreed with Labour MP Ian Murray who said the Prime Minister poses a “greater threat to the UK than any nationalist does”.

The comments come after the Prime Minister visited Scotland last Thursday, a trip which was criticised for taking place while strict Covid restrictions are in place.

During the visit Johnson talked up the positives of co-operation within the UK in tackling coronavirus, while claiming the SNP uses independence as a diversionary tactic from domestic problems.

The Prime Minister has been described as the “best recruiting sergeant for independence” by critics and local Tory politicians are likely to prefer him to keep a low profile during the Holyrood elections.

But when asked about this issue on Thursday, he said: “As for campaigning, wild horses won’t keep me away.

“I’ll be campaigning across the whole of the country.”

He added: “I can’t say when I’ll be here again but it won’t be too long – I can assure you of that.”

However in an interview with the Daily Record yesterday the former Better Together chief urged Johnson to step back from efforts to save the Union.

“I’d say to him ‘stop being the villain that the SNP want you to be. Step into the background and box clever’,” McDougall said.

“You should recognise that this is a battle that will be won or lost in Scotland.”

There have now been 20 polls in succession which show a majority in favour of the Yes side.

READ MORE: Ian Murray calls for confirmatory vote after a Scottish independence referendum

McDougall claimed this was entirely down to a “lack of organisation, leadership and argument” on the No side.

Comparing former prime minister David Cameron’s role to the current No 10 incumbent, he said: “(Mr Cameron) boxed clever and kind of stepped back from it.

“There is a distinct lack of that artistry from Boris Johnson where every intervention is briefed as being the intervention that will save the Union.

“If David Cameron understood that he was not the man who was going to save the Union, and that it was going to be saved in Scotland, Boris Johnson certainly isn’t.”

McDougall also said that if Scots “really” want a referendum in the long term, then it will happen.

He said the Unionist side would need a new grassroots-led campaign.

“Sooner or later forces on the pro-UK side are going to have to self-organise themselves,” he added.

Johnson’s trip to Scotland last week was criticised by Nicola Sturgeon for being unnecessarily risky while strict travel restrictions are in place. She acknowledged he was travelling legally but questioned if it was “really essential right now”.

Downing Street defended the visit saying it was right Johnson was “visible and accessible” to communities across the UK.