Boris Johnson tells Scots a second referendum is not in their interest

The Prime Minister, on his first visit since January, suggested Scots he has spoken to are not interested in another plebiscite because they are focused on recovering from the pandemic.

Last week, Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said the UK Government would not stand in the way of indyref2 if it was the "settled will" of the Scottish people. Scots elected a pro-independence Parliament in May, with the Greens and the SNP winning a combined 72 seats.

BBC Scotland reporter Glenn Campbell suggested the two parties could soon be in government amid reports of a co-operation deal. Both parties have stressed that they are not looking to enter a formal coalition.

Johnson declined to countenance the prospect of another independence ballot when asked how he would respond to a request from the Scottish Government for a Section 30 order, which would provide it with the power to hold indyref2.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon says Boris Johnson's refusal to meet is 'strange'

Speaking to BBC Scotland, he said there “at least a couple of ifs” in that question, adding: “I want to work with the government of Scotland on what I think is the priority for the people in this country right now.

“I think the vaccine rollout in Scotland has been stunning. I think it's a massive credit to the people of Scotland where they've come forward. We need people to come forward to get the second does, we need young people to come forward and we want to work together to deliver a strong economic recovery.

“For my money, that is the that is the priority.”

The Prime Minister, who has declined to meet Nicola Sturgeon during his short trip north, maintained that a referendum was not in the interests of the Scottish people.

He continued: “My impression talking to everybody around the country and in Scotland is that people want us to get on with taking us through the pandemic, out the other side, and having the strongest possible economic recovery – vaccine-led economic recovery – by which, by a simple vowel mutation, we change jabs, jabs, jabs into jobs, jobs, jobs.

“That is what we're trying to do.”

The Tory leader has been warned by the UK’s top polling expert that his argument against a referendum will be “washed away” as the pandemic ceases to dominate everyday life.

Professor Sir John Curtice, of the University of Strathclyde, warned the Prime Minister has he visited Scotland that he could no longer use the Covid crisis as an excuse not to hold another vote.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson's argument against indyref2 will 'wash away', John Curtice says

He told the Express: “If the pandemic is coming towards an end, and the UK Government seemed to be among the cheerleaders to saying that the pandemic is coming to the end, then the arguments you can't hold a referendum anytime soon because of the pandemic will wash away.

"They'll particularly wash away so far as the UK Government won't be able to pursue that argument anymore because of its own stance on the subject that 'we're waiting to see and it's all very much uncertain, we wait to see what happens during the winter.'

"But certainly by this time next year, the reasonable bet is the pandemic will no longer be a significant strain on social and political life.

"At that point, the game of chess starts and we wait to see where the polls are at when the game of chess starts.

"And we wait to see how the game of chess is played. But it's a complicated game of chess."

The Scottish Government has pledged to hold indyref2 within the parliamentary term, once the coronavirus crisis has “passed”.

According to reports, SNP members will be invited to back a new drive for independence at the party’s upcoming conference.

Responding to Johnson, the SNP's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, said: "The SNP government’s focus has been on tackling the pandemic. As we look to recover from the health crisis, it's clear that Scotland is vulnerable under Westminster control as the Tory government looks to inflict another decade of austerity, prematurely end Covid support schemes, prepares to scrap the £20 Universal Credit uplift, and refuses to bring forward a meaningful investment-led package to secure a strong recovery from the pandemic.

“The people of Scotland must have the choice of a better future.

"In May's Scottish elections, the SNP was returned to Government with a cast-iron mandate to hold a post-pandemic referendum – and Boris Johnson’s attempts to deny democracy are unsustainable.

“It’s clear beyond any doubt that the only way to protect our interests and secure a strong and fair recovery from the pandemic is to become an independent country.”