Number 10 insist Boris Johnson speaks for 'majority' of Scotland after ousting last Scot in Union Unit

Number 10 have insisted Boris Johnson speaks for the “majority” of Scotland, one day after ousting the last Scot left in the Union Unit.

Luke Graham is leaving the Union Unit

Luke Graham has departed Downing Street after a dispute inside No.10 over the UK Government's strategy to combat growing support for Scottish independence.

The former Ochil and South Perthshire MP has now lost his job despite No.10 insisting he was not going anywhere.

Rumours of his departure first surfaced last week, with concerns raised Mr Graham had not been effective enough with May’s Holyrood elections now just around the corner.

He has now been replaced by Brexiteer Oliver Lewis, an adviser to Mr Johnson who hopes to bring a new approach.

Making the drastic change so close to May’s election, Downing Street claimed the Union remained the PM’s “focus”, but refused to comment on the reasons why Mr Graham was forced out.

Mr Johnson’s official spokesman said: “As the Prime Minister said himself, he thinks all parts of the UK are stronger together and he will continue to be the voice of the majority of Scottish people who voted to keep the UK together and he will always stand against those trying to separate the UK, which is why it remains an important focus.

“We don't get into details of personnel matters, but as I’ve said the Union Unit will continue to support the PM in his role.”

The departure of Mr Graham and the installation of Mr Lewis has fuelled claims that Mr Johnson does not understand how to raise support for unionism in Scotland.

But allies pointed out there were still Scottish people involved in the overall operation, including the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Michael Gove.

Downing Street on Thursday also pointedly declined to answer the question when asked if there were any Scottish people left working within the unit.

The PM’s spokesman said: "I am obviously not going to list individuals, but there are Scottish people working on union issues across the Government."

Mr Graham was believed to be unhappy with both his role and No.10’s strategy.

Two days ago the Prime Minister’s press secretary dismissed reports of him leaving the job.

Allegra Stratton told lobby journalists: "That is not my understanding.

“Luke Graham is the head of the No.10 Union Unit. It's a team within the wider policy unit and he's a very, very, very valued member of staff."

One source told Sky News that Mr Graham had done “an excellent job”.

They said: "Oliver needed a role and he's seen this as the next big thing. The PM trusts him and he has some radical ideas with a new direction.

"It allows time between now and May to set up a longer-term strategy on this and think bigger than Scotland.

"Luke is a party man and cared a lot about not seeing the Tory party diminish in Scotland."

Another Whitehall official said: “Luke Graham has improved the focus of the government on delivering for Scotland and all parts of the UK and has helped ensure communications focused on demonstrating the practical value of the union to people in all parts of the country.”

Others were less supportive, with some in Downing Street suggesting colleagues were happy to see him leave.

One said: "He [Mr Graham] didn’t endear himself to other spads, ministers or civil servants.

"No one was weeping to see him go”.

The SNP described the appointment of Mr Lewis as a “Vote Leave” takeover and claimed it would drive support for independence.

The party’s Westminster deputy leader Kirsten Oswald said: "The Vote Leave takeover of Boris Johnson's taxpayer-funded anti-independence campaign has spectacularly backfired – and will drive up support for independence even further.

"By installing Dominic Cummings' Brexit apprentice as head of the so-called 'Union Unit', the Prime Minister is demonstrating, yet again, that he is completely clueless about Scotland.

"This botched Tory plot also raises serious questions over the misuse of taxpayer funds for political campaigning.

“It's clear the Tories are using public money to build a party political campaign team in the run-up to the Scottish Parliament elections.

“There must now be full transparency over how much is being spent and for what purpose.”

The decision comes just over a week after Mr Johnson visited a lab in Scotland, less than 24 hours after it experienced a coroanvirus outbreak.

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