SCOTTISH independence and Brexit must be separated to save the union, David Mundell claims.
The Scottish Secretary spoke out during a trade visit to South America, calling on closer cooperation between the governments in Edinburgh and London.
Three years since indyref, Mundell said the two issues have been deliberately conflated in order to push a second ballot, hampering efforts to work towards common goals.
READ MORE: Mundell's admission of less post-Brexit powers for Scotland branded a 'complete betrayal'
Speaking in Paraguay, he said: “Private progress has been overshadowed by public rhetoric.
“We have been accused by the nationalist government in Edinburgh of a ‘power grab,’ of using our exit from the EU as an opportunity to centralise power at Westminster. That is simply not the case.
“As a former MSP, I want to see the Scottish Parliament strengthened and that is what will happen as we leave the EU.
“But I’m equally clear I want to see devolution delivered in a way that strengthens our United Kingdom, not undermines it. And this, sadly, goes to the heart of the matter.
“Until the recent election in June, the Brexit debate in Scotland was deliberately conflated with the question of Scottish independence.
“Despite the passage of only three short years, and despite the decisive result, the Scottish National Party sought to use Brexit to re-open the issue that divided our country so badly. Their attempt was roundly rejected in the recent General Election so we now need the issues to be de-coupled for good.”
He went on: “I’ll not pretend that we don’t face challenges. We face tough negotiations with our EU partners.
“We must bring powers back from Brussels in a way that respects and strengthens the devolution of decision-making to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.”
Mundell is in Paraguay on a trade mission in what is the first visit by the UK Government in more than 20 years, with a new Scottish business task force formed.
He said: “Around half of the UK’s exports to Paraguay come from Scotland, mainly in the form of Scotch whisky.
“But 20 years ago, we were exporting three times as much Scotch whisky to Paraguay as we are now. This is something I want to see turned around in the coming years.”
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