Boris Johnson has rejected SNP calls for a second independence referendum, saying 2014 was a “once-in-a-generation event”.
The prime minister, speaking ahead of the Conservative party conference, also vowed to bring forward measures to “compensate for the grave inadequacies” of the Scottish government.
Mr Johnson said that, following either a deal or a no-deal Brexit, he would bring forward measures to produce “a much stronger Scottish economy”.
The pledges come as the prime minister prepares to head to Manchester for his party’s conference against a backdrop of Tory infighting and criticism of his approach and use of language in the Brexit debate.
Former home secretary Amber Rudd, who until recently had been an ally of Mr Johnson, accused Downing Street of using language that could “incite violence”.
But Mr Johnson, in an interview with BBC Scotland, refused to apologise for using words such as “surrender” and “betray”.
He said: “No. I have to stand my ground there because if you can’t say or use a word that is very common in political discourse, like surrender, then you’re starting to impoverish the language.
“The best way to take the heat out of it all is just to get Brexit done, and my experience is both Leavers and Remainers in this country – most people – just want us to get out on October 31.”
He also ruled out allowing a second referendum independence referendum.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she wants to hold a poll on the issue in the second half of 2020, but the UK government would need to transfer power through a Section 30 order to allow another referendum to take place.
Mr Johnson said: “We had an independence referendum in 2014 and we made an explicit promise to the people of Scotland that this was going to be a once-in-a-generation event.
“The people of Scotland voted very, very substantially to stay part of the UK, which was the right decision as this is the most successful union anywhere in the world.
“They were promised this was a once-in-a-generation thing and I think we should stick with that.”
Following a furious debate in the Commons on Wednesday, he defended his use of strong language.
He said: “They (the SNP) have the highest taxes anywhere in the UK. They are not doing a good job on health, they are not doing a good job on education.
“I hope the money that we are now investing is properly spent on those services.
“And I hope that Scottish Conservatives get the credit they deserve for the hundreds of millions of extra funding that we’re putting into Scottish agriculture which was secured, not by Nicola Sturgeon, but by Scottish Conservatives.”
Responding to Mr Johnson’s remarks, SNP deputy leader Keith Brown, said: “The reality is that the SNP Scottish government is delivering for people and communities, while, under the Tories’ zombie administration, Westminster has completely stopped governing.”