A Tory MP has branded the SNP "Marxists" in an interview with Sky News.

Owen Paterson made the comment while speaking to Dominic Murnaghan about the issue of English votes for English laws.

Pointing to the Welsh border, which was just behind him, he said: "There are decisions made on health in Wales by a bad Labour government in Cardiff that affect me right up here in Shropshire and I can do nothing about it."

Speaking about the devolution given to Wales and Scotland, he said: "We always knew this was asymmetrical, and what has happened is the Scottish referendum has woken the English up to that."

Leaflets and badges at the 2013 conference of Radical Independence, the left-wing pro-independence political group (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

He then accuses the "Scots", as he refers to them throughout the interview, of treating England like "some piggy bank that can be raided so that excessive amount of money are taken from England without responsibility."

According to Paterson, this means that "the Scots can run around promising free healthcare, free holidays to Lanzarote and expect the English to pay."

He suggested that Scotland be granted full fiscal responsibility, so that taxes and spending can be fully accountable to the Scottish parliament, saying it would "re-establish that link with how you vote."

Best General Election 2015 quotes Show all 10 1 /10 Best General Election 2015 quotes Best General Election 2015 quotes 1. "Am I tough enough? Hell, yes, I'm tough enough." Ed Miliband bats away suggestions he would be too weak on the international stage. It likely to go down as one of the quotes we remember this election by. Matthew Lewis/Getty Images Best General Election 2015 quotes 2. "If I'm getting lively about it, it's because I feel bloody lively about it." David Cameron attempts to prove how passionate he is about wanting a second term as Prime Minister after Tory donors criticised his lack of enthusiasm. AFP Best General Election 2015 quotes 3. "Oh it's crats? I thought it was Liberal Demo-cats" Reality TV star Joey Essex is taught a thing or two during his meeting with Nick Clegg. PA Best General Election 2015 quotes 4. "Brain fade" Green party leader Natalie Bennett gave what was described as the "worst political leader's interview ever" on LBC Radio as she fails to answer how the Greens would pay for its ambitious housing policies. LBC/YouTube Best General Election 2015 quotes 5. "We're a shining example of a country where multiple identities work. Where you can be Welsh and Hindu and British, Northern Irish and Jewish and British, where you can wear a kilt and a turban, where you can wear a hijab covered in poppies. Where you can support Man Utd, the Windies and Team GB all at the same time. Of course, I'd rather you supported West Ham" David Cameron experienced his own brain fade when he forgot which football team he supported. Getty Images Best General Election 2015 quotes 6. “This is a real career-defining … country-defining election that we face in less than a week’s time” The Prime Minister made another gaffe when he made it sound like the election was all about himself. BBC Best General Election 2015 quotes 7. “Ed Miliband stabbed his own brother in the back to become Labour leader. Now he is willing to stab the United Kingdom in the back to become prime minister.” Defence Secretary Michael Fallon launched a vicious personal attack on Ed Miliband. PA Best General Election 2015 quotes 8. "Ajockalypse Now." The colourful term used by Boris Johnson to describe a Labour government propped up by the SNP. JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP/Getty Images Best General Election 2015 quotes 9. “The SNP are openly racist. The anti-English hostility, and the kind of language that is used about and towards English people, is totally extraordinary.” Nigel Farage launches an attack on Nicola Sturgeon and her SNP party. AFP/Getty Images Best General Election 2015 quotes 10. "Terms are like Shredded Wheat. Two are wonderful, three might be too many." David Cameron rules out a third term as Prime Minister. Getty Images

He said the Scottish electorate would think very carefully in such a scenario: "Are you going to vote for, effectively, a Marxist SNP, or would you vote for a prudent Scottish Conservative party offering lower taxes and better service?"

Given that the SNP now hold all but three of Scotland's 59 seats, the answer to Paterson's question seems obvious.

Paterson was the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs until July 2014, and was re-elected to the safe Conservative seat of North Shropshire in last week's general election with a majority of around 17,000 votes.