Johnson backs 'grown-up conversation' on federal UK to fight nationalism

 
Measures: Boris Johnson says a federal structure may be needed (Picture: Reuters)
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Boris Johnson today backed the creation of a federal United Kingdom to tackle the rising tide of nationalism.

The Mayor claimed the Scottish Nationalist surge showed the need for a “grown-up” conversation over the future of the country.

He admitted some healing would need to be done between the Scots and the English after the election.

But he denied his warnings of an “Ajockalypse Now” deal between Labour and the SNP were damaging — insisting his comments were a joke and criticising the “pseudo-indignation” of the SNP.

Mr Johnson told the Standard: “I genuinely think that after the election we need to have a sit down and people need to think about the future of Scotland.

“I want a United Kingdom but we may have to think about a federal structure for the UK. I’m on for that.”

The Mayor did not say what form a federal UK might take but it could include strong regional assemblies with administrative powers, alongside an English parliament with legislative powers.

Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales would also get more powers. “All that is to be elaborated but we need to have a grown up discussion,” he added. Mr Johnson said his “gut feeling” was that support for the Conservatives would solidify by polling day as Londoners realised a Lab-SNP agreement would be “very bad news” for the capital.

“In the last 36 hours I have notice a pulse, a surge, a movement towards us, a feeling that they don’t want to risk it,” he later added.

“They see quite a lot of London-bashing policies — policies that tax London homes, tax London jobs — the sort of lip-smacking relish with which Labour plus the SNP would siphon great wodges of London dosh up the M1 to Scotland. They worry about that.”

He denied his remarks about the SNP were racist and suggested anybody who felt they were was being “a tiny bit hypersensitive”.

He added: “It’s fair to alert people. In my turbulent political career there are all sorts of things I may have said or not said. This is one of the least shocking things.”

The Mayor said he had always thought it would be a very tough election for the Tories to win but added: “Let’s see how close it is.”

He said: “People have been through a lot in the last five years, you’ve got to recognise that.

“For loads of people there’s no question, it’s been hard. But you need a strong economy and sensible policies and that’s what we’re offering.”

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