Humza Yousaf has claimed "every single Scottish Conservative" agrees with a Tory peer who suggested that devolution should be reversed.
David Frost said it was "time to reverse the process" of devolution and called for his party to “review and roll back some currently devolved powers” if they are re-elected at the next general election.
His comments provoked outrage among Scots Tory MSPs who dismissed it as "nonsense" and "baloney".
But the First Minister said today it is was proof of what the Scottish Conservatives "really think".
Yousaf was asked by SNP MSP Fiona Hyslop during First Minister's Questions if it was up to all parliamentarians to defend Holyrood "from and attack on democracy".
He replied: “Absolutely. Lord Frost, unelected Tory peer, gave the game away. He said the quiet bit out loud.
“He said what every single Scottish Conservative really thinks.”
He replied: “Absolutely. Lord Frost, unelected Tory peer, gave the game away. He said the quiet bit out loud.
“He said what every single Scottish Conservative really thinks.”
Yousaf continued: “It’s hardly a surprise that the party that didn’t support the Scottish Parliament now wants to dismantle the Scottish Parliament.
“But let me be abundantly clear: whether it’s on the Section 35 veto, whether it’s their inability to grant an exemption under the Internal Market Act, whether it's the fact they want to curtail our excellent international development work or external engagement, with the SNP-led Scottish Government, we will always defend our democracy and we will always defend the voice of the Scottish people.”
Former Brexit Secretary Frost wrote: "The SNP’s implosion is a chance to put failing devolution into reverse. The Section 35 decision must be only the first step in a determined campaign to reverse the many mis-steps of recent years... It's very obvious that riding the tiger of Scottish nationalism has nearly seen the UK dismembered and gobbled up."
He continued: "Not only must no more powers be devolved to Scotland, it's time to reverse the process... Ministers should make clear that, if re-elected, they will review and roll back some currently devolved powers.
“In particular, Scotland does not need to be an independent actor on the world stage; it should not be able to legislate to disrupt free trade within the UK; and it does not need to have most tax-raising powers currently available to it."
Frost's piece provoked anger amongst Scottish Tories. Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser said: "This is nonsense. Devolution has allowed us to shine a light on SNP failures. The Conservatives will not be rolling it back."
Central Scotland MSP Stephen Kerr said: "Strongly disagree with this article. A poor Scottish Government isn't justification to roll back devolution, any more than issues at the UK Government are justification for Scottish separation. Devolution works. It's the SNP that are failing.
"Lord Frost's contribution threatens to undo much of the excellent work the UK Government under Rishi Sunak has done in Scotland. The PM has taken Scottish issues seriously (The First Minister was one of his first calls on taking office), and supports freeports & Scottish industry."
Tory constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said: “What a load of baloney. Devolution hasn’t failed and no Conservative should want to reverse it.”
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