THE former de facto Prime Minister of the UK has admitted the Union is at “greater risk now than at any point in my lifetime”.
David Lidington, who stepped down as an MP last year, warned Boris Johnson faces an uphill battle to prevent Scottish independence.
Theresa May’s former deputy also predicted a failure to prepare Northern Ireland for Brexit could put the UK at further risk of breaking up.
READ MORE: David Lidington: No-deal Brexit could seal Scottish independence
He told Business Insider: "My view is the Union is at greater risk now than at any point in my lifetime."
Recent polls put support for Scottish independence at 54%, when don’t knows are excluded, and Lidington said they represent a "worrying snapshot, especially when you see support for independence growing among the younger age group”.
Johnson has reacted by sending ministers on more visits to Scotland, with Chancellor Rishi Sunak appearing in Glasgow and Bute yesterday.
Lidington said he was “delighted” to see this, adding he’d like to "get to a situation where it was seen as perfectly normal for minsters to go to Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland any day of the week”.
He urged Tory ministers to "act and speak in a way that shows acting for and respect all parts of the UK”.
"I've felt for a long time that the problem that is as much English indifference to the value of the Union than it is nationalism,” the former MP explained.
READ MORE: Release of key Scottish independence poll blocked by May's deputy
Lidington went on to say that a failure to properly understand the concerns of Northern Ireland could put further strain on the Union.
The UK Government has pledged additional financial support to businesses in NI ahead of the withdrawal from the EU.
Lidington commented: "I'm pleased that the government has come forward with more detail but if you listen to what Northern Irish business groups are saying, there needs to be a lot more done as they need time to prepare for all of this.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel