A CONSERVATIVE MP has said Tory members would trade the Union for Brexit because of Scottish "whinging" about wanting to leave the UK, and due to Scots being pests despite "getting a hell of a lot of money out of England".

Colonel Bob Stewart, Tory MP for Beckenham, made the comments to the News Letter.

Stewart was being asked about a YouGov poll published this week that showed Tory members were willing to sacrifice the Union if it meant securing Brexit.

A total of 63% would want Brexit even if it meant Scotland leaving, and 59% were willing to see Northern Ireland exit.

He refused to believe the survey's findings on Northern Ireland, saying: “I don’t believe a word of it. I can only speak for myself, but I’d be very surprised if that was the case.”

However, he struck a very different chord when asked about the figures for Scotland.

Laughing, Stewart replied: “Ah, that’s different. They’re not happy. But the Scots keep pestering us.

"They get a hell of a lot of money out of England, so people like those in my constituency might well have a different view. Each Scottish person gets £1300 a year more than each English person from the central government.”

Pressed further on the amount of money Northern Ireland receives from the UK Government, he added: “We think Northern Ireland is special. And it doesn’t whinge the whole time about wanting to leave the United Kingdom.

“I am dead up for the Union, I am dead up for Northern Ireland and I just don’t believe [the survey findings about Northern Ireland].”

Stewart has served as MP for Beckenham since 2010.