Could Scotland sink the Johnson dream?

When the cabinet met on Tuesday in the Locarno Suite of the Foreign Office, one item was top of the agenda: the Union. The reason? Over the past four months, support for both Nicola Sturgeon and Scottish independence has risen. There is genuine worry in government that a few wrong moves could see Scotland on a path to independence. ‘It’s the biggest single threat to the stability of this government,’ warns a minister.

In order to prevent this a plan is underway. Boris Johnson is visiting Scotland today where he will outline new funding while there will be wider efforts to visibly strengthen ties between Westminster and the devolved governments. The Prime Minister has ordered ministers to spend more time in Scotland and appear on Scottish media more regularly while Michael Gove is leading efforts in the Cabinet Office to have a Union first strategy going forward.