South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has hit back at Boris Johnson after the Prime Minister told Tory MPs that devolution had been a “disaster” in Scotland.

Boris Johnson also reportedly described it as predecessor Tony Blair’s “biggest mistake”.

Colin Smyth said: “Boris Johnson has been a disaster, not devolution. The truth is he and his party are now the biggest threat to the United Kingdom. The rise in support for independence rests firmly at the door of Number 10 and is a reaction against an unpopular, useless UK Tory Government.

“The Scottish Parliament is one of Labour’s greatest achievements. In the face of attacks on devolution from the Tories and the SNP, Labour will always be devolution’s greatest defender.

“Rather than debating history, we should be debating what we can actually do with the powers of devolution to transform lives in Scotland.

“Labour is committed to ensuring that devolution works for everyone in Scotland, and we will always fight for it.

“In the midst of a pandemic, when people’s lives and livelihoods are at risk, both our governments should be focusing on bringing our country together and getting us through this crisis.”