National service; Boris Johnson’s mission to save United Kingdom – The Yorkshire Post says

This explains, in part, the Prime Minister’s tour of the nations and regions which saw him head to Wales to send out a subliminal message that the vaccine programme is part of a great national endeavour.

He knows that the threat of Scottish independence was not nullified by the 2014 referendum result and pressure for a second ballot will intensify still further if the SNP triumph in the forthcoming Holyrood elections.

Yet it requires a far more nuanced approach than the Tory leader proclaiming himself to be the ‘Minister for the Union’ – his personal support, still strong despite Covid, is not universal.

It also explains why the former Scottish minister Lord Dunlop has reportedly advised the PM to create a new Cabinet position for the Union and make it as important a job as other “great offices of state” to help keep the UK intact.

There’s certainly merit to the idea. Yet it should be pointed out that Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland continue to be served by their own Secretaries of State who, in turn, are all entitled to attend Cabinet meetings.

And if Mr Johnson does, indeed, decide to remodel his Cabinet to better reflect the changing needs, and priorities, of post-pandemic Britain, he will risk an uprising here if he doesn’t choose to reinstate the post of Northern Powerhouse Minister to the Cabinet.

After all, the North has just as much to offer the UK, if not more, than the devolved nations – a point that the PM would now be wise to acknowledge.

Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.