PUBLISHED: 19:55, Thu, Jun 27, 2019 | UPDATED: 20:14, Thu, Jun 27, 2019
Boris Johnson mocked the Scottish Nationalist Party for suggesting Scotland would back plans to re-enter the European Union after gaining control over important economic sectors like fisheries. The Tory leadership hopeful took a dig at plans for the Scottish Government to campaign for a new independence referendum based on a manifesto to petition for membership of the bloc after Brexit. Asked whether he would deliver Brexit if faced with the threat of breaking the UK apart, the fervent Brexiteer said: "There’s a lot of misunderstanding about this because I think a really good Brexit will help us cement the Union.
"I would also point out the Scottish Nationalist Party would effectively have their guns spiked because once we make a great success of Brexit, they will have to argue to the people of Scotland that they want to rejoin the EU, join the euro, join the Schengen area, submit Scotland to every type of regulation and lose control – which they will just have gained – of Scottish fishing.
"Is that really a great manifesto for the SNP? Absolutely not."
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has intensified preparations for a new independence referendum despite the British Government repeatedly shutting down her proposals for a new vote.
Ms Sturgeon has claimed leaving the European Union would pose an economic threat to Scotland and in April confirmed she wants to hold a fresh vote on Scottish independence by 2021.
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Boris Johnson suggested Scotland would not be easily convinced to rejoin the EU (Image: SKY NEWS)
Boris Johnson claimed Brexit would "cement" the Union (Image: SKY NEWS)
But the Scottish leader faced backlash over her proposals due to ongoing complaints from members of the fishing communities forced to comply with the controversial EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP).
The CFP allows vessels from European Union member states to access British waters and imposes strict catching quotas.
During Brexit negotiations, Theresa May has repeatedly said the UK will become an independent
