Boris Johnson compares Yes vote to ‘middle-aged couple’ getting divorced

Boris Johnson has been branded “offensive and inaccurate” after he waded into the row over Scottish independence.

The London Mayor suggested Scotland is subsidised by England and likened a Yes vote to a “middle-aged couple” getting a divorce.

When asked what he thought of independence, Mr Johnson said: “Well we wouldn’t have to help pay for Scotland via Barnett formula.”

In the newspaper article, he said: “Divorce will diminish us both. It will be unutterably wretched and painful, and it will eliminate the most successful political union in history.”

SNP Treasury spokesman and Dundee East MP, Stewart Hosie, said: “Boris Johnson has once again made clear the consequences of a No vote with his offensive and inaccurate remarks.”

He added: “The moves afoot to scrap Barnett in the event of a No vote show that this dismal future on offer to Scotland would see our budget cut by billions of pounds, disadvantaging Scotland even further under the Westminster system underlining the urgency of achieving a Yes vote.”