The Tories will “have a problem” in Scotland if Boris Johnson succeeds Theresa May in Downing Street, former deputy first minister Jim Wallace has said.
The Liberal Democrat peer said Mr Johnson’s brand of “English nationalism” would not wash north of the border.
Lord Wallace, speaking to the Press and Journal, also predicted the success of Mr Johnson in the leadership race would give Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson a “credibility problem”.
He said: “I think the Scottish Tories will have a problem. Ruth especially will have a credibility problem. In that final debate she did in the referendum she basically called him a liar.
“I suppose in politics today you can actually stand up two years later and say that he is god’s gift to humanity, but I do genuinely think she might find a real credibility problem because a lot of the things she said will come back to haunt her.”
Lord Wallace also spoke out in support of Michael Gove’s controversial plan to spend cash in devolved areas if he were to become prime minister.
He said: “Let’s not go down the road of ‘Michael Gove proposed it so we must be against it’.
“The city deals are substantial UK Government funding in partnership with the Scottish Government and have tremendous potential so if we want to look at something similar I wouldn’t no for the sake of saying no.”
The former Orkney and Shetland MP said SNP outrage at the plan had an “element of cutting off the nose to spite the face”.
A Scottish Tory spokesman said: “Ruth has made clear she will work with whoever the next prime minister is.”