NICOLA Sturgeon should say how "marvellous" the Tories are for the UK Government to respect Scotland, Jacob Rees-Mogg has said. 

Rees-Mogg, who has taken on the newly minted role of the Minister for Brexit Opportunities, said he would not even publicly pretend to respect the Edinburgh government because it is run by the SNP.

His extraordinary comments came during a grilling by the Commons’ Public Affairs and Constitutional Affairs Committee on Tuesday morning.

READ MORE: Claim Putin would welcome Scottish independence referendum 'smacks of desperation'

Highlighting past comments made by Rees-Mogg where he referred to the Scottish Government as “hopeless”, SNP MP Ronnie Cowan asked if remarks such as this were in the spirit of promoting “harmonious” relations between the two administrations.

Rees Mogg responded by railing against the SNP government in Holyrood and claiming that “poor people” in Scotland would be better off under a Scottish Conservative administration.

He said: “There is a clear difference between the political discussions between Conservatives and Scottish nationalists and the working at an official level.

“You see this every Wednesday, when your exceptionally charming leader [Ian Blackford], pretends that he is very fierce and rude.”

Cowan demanded the minister “in public you can pretend” to be respectful of the Scottish Government.

READ MORE: Nationality and Borders Bill could see Ukraine refugees put in jail for years

Rees-Mogg said he would not “because it’s led by an SNP administration that I think is not in the interests of the people of Scotland”.

He added: “I think you do damage to the Scottish economy, I think you’ve harmed the education and health service results in Scotland are much worse than those in England.

“I think poor people of Scotland would be much better off with a Conservative government – ditto Wales – of course I think that.”

The minister was being grilled on the Government’s controversial Common Frameworks policy which is being introduced to ensure similar policies are followed across the UK – while allowing for some differences – due to powers coming to Westminster from Brussels after Brexit.

Rees-Mogg was defending the Government’s Common Framework which sets out how the public sector should buy goods and services.

He claimed the UK Government’s plans, which will diverge from the EU rules by which it was previously bound, would allow more small businesses to supply the public sector.

He also accused the Scottish Government of “sticking with EU procurement rules” which he insisted would put greater costs on businesses.

READ MORE: Scottish Tory Falkirk Council candidate said Nicola Sturgeon is a ‘dictator’

Speaking to The National after the Minister’s appearance, Cowan said: “When Government ministers come in front of select committees they usually perform professionally and try not to be argumentative.

“But every so often the mask slips.”

In reference to criticism of the Tories in Holyrood, Rees-Mogg told Cowan: “It takes two to tango, old bean.”

He added: “When Mrs Sturgeon stands up and says Boris Johnson is the greatest leader this country has ever had, I will start saying nice things about the Scottish Government.

“When the SNP starts saying how marvellous the Conservative Government is, and how brilliantly led it is, and how inspired it is, then we might have a different tone.”

In contrast to the relationship between the two administrations on a political level, Rees-Mogg said the Common Frameworks “work extremely well” because they are led by non-partisan civil servants.