Nicola Sturgeon: Boris Johnson secretly wants a no-deal Brexit and government is ‘hiding its true intentions from the public’ The First Minister also told Mr Johnson she would soon formally request the power to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence

Nicola Sturgeon has promised to step up Scotland‘s planning for a no-deal Brexit after becoming convinced that Boris Johnson secretly wants to leave the EU without an agreement.

Speaking after a lengthy meeting with the Prime Minister, she claimed the UK Government was hiding its true intentions from the public and described him as a “dangerous” man.

‘Behind all of the bluff and bluster, this is a government that is dangerous’ The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription. Nicola Sturgeon

The First Minister also told Mr Johnson she would soon formally request the power to hold a second referendum on Scottish independence so voters could choose a way out of Brexit.

The Prime Minister and Ms Sturgeon had a “lively” debate about the future of the Union during the 50-minute meeting at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh.

‘Dangerous’ man

As he pulled up in his official car, a group of around 200 protesters gathered outside booed and hurled insults, with Mr Johnson later choosing to leave by the back door instead.

Ms Sturgeon said she had concluded from his comments during the meeting that he was not serious about seeking a fresh deal with the EU and was now actively pursuing a no-deal strategy.

“After my discussions with Boris Johnson, behind all of the bluff and bluster, this is a government that is dangerous,” she said.

“I think the path that it is pursuing is a dangerous one for Scotland and for all of the UK.”

‘PM wants no-deal’

She added: “He says publicly – and he said it to me again today – that he wants a deal with the EU, but there is no clarity whatsoever about how he thinks he can get from the position now where he’s taking a very hard line – the withdrawal agreement is dead, the backstop is dead.

“If I listen to all of that and listen to what’s not being said as well as what is being said, I think that this is a government that is pursuing a no-deal strategy, however much they may deny that in public.”

She added: “I think, if he were in this room right now, he would deny this vehemently, but I think he wants a no-deal Brexit.”

Nicola Sturgeon also revealed that during a “very robust” debate on Scottish independence, she had challenged Mr Johnson to a live televised debate on the issue but his officials intervened.

Speaking earlier as he visited the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, where he had a tour of the nuclear submarine HMS Victorious, Mr Johnson dismissed calls for another referendum.

“It was a once in a generation consultation of the people, we did it in 2014 and the people were assured then that it was a once in a generation consultation,” he added.

Referendum vote

However, he failed to rule out granting Scotland the power to hold another vote while he is in office, saying only there was “no reason” why one should take place at the moment.

A Number 10 spokesman said the Prime Minister had used his meeting with Ms Sturgeon to stress that he was a “passionate believer in the power of the Union”.

“On Brexit, the Prime Minister said that while the Government’s preference is to negotiate a new deal which abolishes the anti-democratic backstop, the UK will be leaving the EU on October 31st come what may,” he added.