THE man behind Scotland's newest pro-Union, pro-Brexit campaign group insisted "I'm not mental" as he joined The National for a debate.

David Clews, who was previously development manager for Scotland in Union, is now the face of UK Unity. At the group's launch in Glasgow this month he challenged the "cowardly elite" to meet him in person – so The National invited him in for a chat.

The man in the custom-embroidered polo shirt insisted his self-funded organisation, which has released several bizarre videos, was not a parody. "The campaign kind of reflects my personality – it is a wee bit quirky and a wee bit different," he said. "But at the heart of it, if it is a serious message then I can be serious."

Clews said there were "huge benefits to be had by leaving the European Union", but went on to suggest that Scotland should have to make a case for powers over devolved matters to be returned to Holyrood rather than Westminster.

He said: "With the powers coming back from Brussels, there has to be a proper business case made that if those powers went to the Holyrood parliament it would benefit the entire United Kingdom."

He said devolution had weakened the UK, but added: "We realise there is a Scottish Parliament – I'm not standing outside demanding it's shut tomorrow, because who am I to do that?"

Clews insisted the overwhelming Remain vote north of the Border was the result of a "stitch-up by the establishment in Scotland", and that a Leave vote was a vote to exit the single market.

"There is no hard or soft Brexit," he said. "There is leaving the European Union and all its institutions, which is what people signed up to."

However, he appeared somewhat muddled about the Brexit process, saying: "Apparently we were to go into recession when we left the European Union, apparently unemployment would rocket. None of that happened." The National's digital editor Stephen Paton and community editor Shona Craven pointed out that the UK had not yet left the bloc.

There were also mixed messages on immigration, with the former Tory (and then Labour) councillor insisting there should be no "bespoke" deals for different parts of the UK, but adding that "in Scotland you could have incentives to attract people to fill different skills sectors". He said immigration had been "fantastic" for the UK, but added: "I for one worry about the future of race relations in this country if the government doesn't take an overall look at the situation and try to do what's right for everybody".

Clews argued that dissatisfaction with the current UK Government – or any of the UK governments of the past 30 years – was not justification for breaking up the Union, noting that "nothing is permanent". However, he went on to suggest the SNP's stance on Nato membership would dictate the policy of an independent Scotland. Challenged over the apparent contradiction, he said: "Hahaha, I wouldn't say it's dishonest, I'd say it's part of an argument. I'm not here seeking elected office ... I'm a campaigner. I believe in certain things and I believe in trying to achieve them".

As well as looking ahead to a post-Brexit Britain, Clews reflected on Britain's role in the Second World War, which has featured heavily in UK Unity's social media posts. However, he added: "I'm not going to deny there are times in the United Kingdom's history when our record has not been rosy. I'm not mental – I understand all these things. But it is to recognise that there is a future as well."

In terms of UK Unity's future, Clews has big ambitions. "We have 3000 signed-up supporters across the UK who want to leave the European Union and keep the UK intact," he said. "This time next year we're hoping to have 100,000 supporters."

However, despite the fact that our debate notched up 11,000 views on Facebook, by last night the UK Unity Twitter account had a slightly less impressive 180 followers.

Watch The National vs UK Unity on Facebook here.