A NATIONALIST MSP has said he does “not feel particularly British” and questioned a UK government plan to make public office holders swear an oath to British values.

John Mason, who represents Glasgow Shettleston, was jeered by Tory MSPs when he raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions.

On Sunday, the Tory Communities Secretary Sajid Javid said he was “drawn” to a loyalty pledge for elected officials, civil servants, council workers and even NHS and BBC workers.

The proposal originated in a report on social cohesion by Dame Louise Casey earlier this month, which said government failure to address immigration issues had divided communities.

Mr Mason asked if the UK government had run the proposal past the Scottish Government.

He said: “I wonder if the First Minister is any clearer than I am as to what British values actually are, and if everyone in Scotland should be expected to have them?

“Because certainly I, for one, do not feel particularly British."

Nicola Sturgeon told MSPs: "The Scottish Government has had no communication from the UK Government in relation to the Secretary of State's premature, in my view, response to the Casey report on social cohesion.”

She went on: "I think it deserves to be given proper consideration and I would suggest that the UK Government should do the same, commit to giving it proper consideration, rather than taking the premature step of announcing that all public servants should be compelled to swear an oath. I do think it potentially risks the exclusion of people who do not define their values as uniquely British.

"Scotland has a long history of welcoming people of all nationalities and all faiths.

"We are committed to supporting their integration into our communities, not, in my view, through the swearing of oaths, but by creating a country where everyone has an opportunity to flourish and where diversity is truly welcomed and celebrated."

Mr Mason recently prompted controversy by revealing he still boycotts a travel firm over its owner's support for the Union in 2014.

He said he refused to use Barrhead Travel, which has an office in his constituency, because "they're on the No side".