Boris Johnson labels Scottish independence 'foolish project' that would see trade barriers in UK

Boris Johnson has labelled Scottish independence a “foolish project” that would see trade barriers in the UK.

The comments were made at Prime Minister’s Questions after SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford claimed Scotland “can’t afford” to be trapped and part of a “trade war” with Europe.

It came during a session that also saw Mr Blackford say Britain’s neighbours were “outperforming” the UK.

Mr Blackford said: “Scotland simply can’t afford to remain trapped in the failing Westminster system. Stop the world Scotland wants to get on.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford speaks during Prime Minister's Questions

“Stronger together, has the Prime Minister seen the pound? I think the financial markets are giving their judgement on this Prime Minister.

“The Prime Minister can afford to live in his own little world, his own Little Britain, but people have to live with the reality of a failing Westminster system.

" A cost-of-living crisis worse in the UK, than any other G7 country. An inflation rate double that of France, the second worse economic growth forecasts in the G20 next to only sanctioned Russia.

“Now a threat of a trade war with our European friends triggered by a law-breaking Prime Minister. That is not a vision for the future of Scotland.

"Our nation is big enough, rich enough and smart enough. Isn’t it the case Prime Minister that Scotland simply can’t afford to remain trapped in the failing Westminster system?”

Mr Johnson replied: “The UK has record numbers of people in payroll employment. That’s an astounding thing when you consider where we were during the pandemic. That was because of the UK working well together as he will remember, with the vaccine rollout, with the testing – which Scotland and the rest of the country co-operated brilliantly.

“He talks about a trade war. What could be more foolish than a project that actually envisages trade barriers within parts of the UK? That’s what we’re trying to break down.

“I don’t doubt [his] talents as a conversationalist, but I think there are other subjects in the national conversation right now and they include what we’re doing to come through the aftershocks of Covid, with the strongest jobs-led recovery of any European economy.”