Brexit must not be used as an excuse to break up the United Kingdom, Cabinet minister David Lidington will warn.

The country is at a crossroads but severing ties would leave every one of the four nations “weaker and poorer”, the PM’s deputy will say.

In the latest of the Government’s Road to Brexit speeches, Mr Lidington will call for the UK to pull together.

Nicola Sturgeon ">First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been a fierce critic of the government’s Brexit plans (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Speaking at Airbus in North Wales, the Cabinet Office Minister is expected to say: “We as a country are at a crossroads in our history. We face a choice: a choice that represents the difference between a prosperous, secure nation that is united at home and stronger abroad, and a poorer country that is divided at home and a weaker player on the global stage.”

“We are all more prosperous and more secure when we all work together for our common good as one United Kingdom,” he will add.

“Leaving the EU presents many challenges for our centuries-old union story – and opportunities too. Some want to use it as an excuse to loosen these ties that bind us together – even sever them completely.

“Such an outcome would leave every one of our four nations both weaker and poorer.”

Mr Lidington insisted the four nations are stronger together (Jane Barlow/PA)

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been a vocal critic of the way the devolved administrations have been treated during Britain’s exit from the European Union.

SNP ministers at Holyrood refused to put forward Westminster Brexit legislation for consent votes in protest over how powers would be brought back from Brussels.

Mr Lidington will insist the Government has made a “considerable offer” to commit to sending the vast majority of powers being brought back from the EU to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast.

“Let’s be in no doubt: this would mean a very big change to the EU Withdrawal Bill that is before Parliament and a significant step forward in these negotiations,” he will say.

Mr Lidington will insist the Government has made a ‘considerable offer’ to commit to sending the vast majority of powers being brought back from the EU to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast (Jane Barlow/PA)

“This would put on the face of the Bill what we have always said was our intention: wide-ranging devolution not just away from Brussels, but from Westminster, too.

“This offer puts beyond doubt our commitment to a smooth and orderly departure from the European Union, in a way that doesn’t just respect the devolution settlements, but strengthens and enhances them.”

But the Cabinet minister will warn that some powers are “clearly related” to the UK as a whole and will continue to apply across all nations.

He will add: “The unity that exists between our four nations gives us a scale of ambition none of us could possess alone.”

Scotland’s Brexit minister Michael Russell said: “The UK Government’s approach to date makes a mockery of claims of a partnership of equals – they have failed to properly engage through the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) process, while no Scottish MP or minister was invited to the Chequers summit on the final shape of Brexit.

“Scotland voted strongly to remain in the European Union, and there should be an acknowledgement of that by UK ministers, instead of unhelpful rhetoric around their proposed power grab and how that relates to future trade deals.”