Boris Johnson claims SNP want to ‘bundle’ Labour into power to force new independence and Brexit votes

The SNP could try to “bundle” Jeremy Corbyn into Downing Street as they push for the Brexit and Scottish independence referendums to be restaged next year, Boris Johnson has warned.

The Prime Minister hit out at the “chaos and cacophony” repeating the votes would cause, as he attacked Nicola Sturgeon’s party for its pro-European stance.

He claimed it would see Scotland “handing back” power over fishing to Brussels.

The PM said: “It is one of the many bizarre features of the SNP that in spite of being called names like Salmond and Sturgeon, they are committed to handing back those fish to the control of the EU.

“We want to turbo-charge the Scottish fishing sector, they would allow Brussels to charge for our turbot.”

With Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon having pushed for a second independence referendum ever since the Brexit vote – which saw almost two-thirds of Scots back staying in the EU – Mr Johnson claimed the SNP had a “programme for total national discord”.

He said it “appears that the SNP may yet try to bundle” Jeremy Corbyn into power “in a Kremlin coup so that they get on with their programme for total national discord turning the whole of 2020”.

This would turn what “should be a great year for this country into the chaos and cacophony of two more referendums”, the PM added, as he spoke out against the prospect of a repeat of the 2014 vote on independence.

Mr Johnson, who has repeatedly vowed to take the UK out of the European Union by October 31, made the remarks in his first address to the Conservative conference since becoming PM.

He paid tribute to his predecessor Theresa May, and also to former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who quit suddenly last month – in part because she was “hopelessly conflicted” over Brexit.

Since her departure the party in Scotland has now moved in line with Conservative policy that a no-deal Brexit may be necessary, if agreement cannot be reached with the EU.

In his keynote conference address, Mr Johnson said the Government was tabling “constructive and reasonable” Brexit proposals in Brussels on Wednesday.

He insisted his position is a compromise which he hopes will provoke concessions from Brussels – otherwise the UK could be forced to leave without a deal.

Mr Johnson said: “That is not an outcome we want, it is not an outcome we seek at all. But let me tell you, my friends, it is an outcome for which we are ready.”

SNP MP Stephen Gethins hit back at the PM and said: “Boris Johnson’s Brexit ‘take it or leave it’ threat is utterly unacceptable and yet another push towards a catastrophic no-deal exit.

“It’s clear that if Johnson pursues crashing out of the EU without a deal – hitting jobs, public services and people’s livelihoods – then the blame will lie solely and squarely at the door of the Tory party.

“Boris Johnson is in no position to issue ultimatums to anyone – from Parliament to our EU partners – because he is duty bound to obey the law.

“If this latest proposal – as it is looking increasingly likely – is not acceptable to Brussels or Dublin, then he must seek an extension to the October 31 deadline as the law requires him to do.

“If he does not and instead chooses to flout the law, then it is clear beyond any doubt that he must be removed from office without delay.

“The SNP will do everything we can to prevent a damaging Brexit and protect our economic and social interests.

“It is vital that other opposition parties put the national interest ahead of party interests and ramp up efforts to get rid of Boris Johnson by uniting around a vote of no confidence, securing an extension and calling an election.”