TORIES "don't care about poorer people or the  NHS", a senior Boris Johnson adviser has said in comments that have been described as "a shameful admission" by the SNP.

The remarks, which have just emerged, were made by Boris Johnson's right-hand man and former Vote Leave co-director, Dominic Cummings at a conference in 2017.

He said: "People think, and by the way I think most people are right: ‘The Tory party is run by people who basically don’t care about people like me.’

“That is what most people in the country have thought about the Tory party for decades. I know a lot of Tory MPs and I am sad to say the public is basically correct. Tory MPs largely do not care about these poorer people. They don’t care about the NHS. And the public has kind of cottoned on to that.”

Dr Philippa Whitford MP said the confession "tells you everything you need to know about the Tories" and explained the Tory government's appalling record of increasing poverty and under-funding the NHS, which through the Barnett system reduces funding available in Scotland".

The SNP's health spokesperson said all four UK health services are under a growing threat from the Tories under Johnson – with Brexit, a Trump trade deal, and Tory Cabinet ministers who want to privatise the NHS all increasing the risk.

Under the SNP Government, Scotland is widely recognised as having the best-performing NHS in the UK – with record spending, record staffing, the best performing A&E service, more GPs per head of population, the highest pay rise for NHS Agenda for Change staff in the UK, and high patient satisfaction levels.

Whitford said: This is a shameful admission from a senior Boris Johnson aide that tells you everything you need to know about the Tories and their selfish priorities.

"Tory cuts to social security and public services have caused a dramatic increase in child poverty and inequality, and millions of families have been left worse off and struggling to make ends meet.

"Boris Johnson's plans to impose a disastrous Brexit will only make things worse – threatening to cause a recession, which will destroy jobs, squeeze wages, and drive down living standards.

"Our NHS has never been under greater threat – with Brexit, a Trump trade deal, and Tory Cabinet ministers who want to privatise our NHS all increasing the risk.

"Under the SNP, Scotland has the best performing NHS in the UK and tackling poverty is a key priority. With the full powers of an independent country, Scotland could go even further to build the fairer and more equal society we all want to see."