Nicola Sturgeon says Boris Johnson is driving UK to 'disaster' ahead of first official meeting

Boris Johnson's "hard-line" Brexit stance is driving the country towards "disaster", Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has warned.

The SNP leader hit out at the new government as she prepares to meet the prime minister during his first trip to Scotland.

"The people of Scotland did not vote for this Tory government, they didn't vote for this new prime minister, they didn't vote for Brexit and they certainly didn't vote for a catastrophic no-deal Brexit which Boris Johnson is now planning for," Ms Sturgeon said.

She added: "Boris Johnson has formed a hard-line Tory government with one aim - to take Scotland and the UK out of the EU without a deal.

"Scotland has been ignored throughout the Brexit process and it is now time for everyone who cares about the future of Scotland to come together to chart our own course and say to the Tories - stop driving our country towards disaster."

Mr Johnson, who took office last week, will also meet with Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson.

The PM's talks with Ms Sturgeon will no doubt be tense, given the first minister's diametrically opposing view on Brexit.

But Mr Johnson's meeting with Ms Davidson could also be difficult.

The Scottish Tory leader has made it clear that she cannot support a no-deal Brexit, something the PM has said he would be prepared to pursue if it means Britain leaving the EU at the end of October.

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Mr Johnson also ignored Ms Davidson's advice to keep David Mundell in his role as Scottish secretary, sacking him and replacing him with Alister Jack.

The PM called for a renewal of "the ties that bind our United Kingdom" as he announced a £300m funding pot for communities in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to allay fears over a break-up of the union after Brexit.

Downing Street has said that visits to Wales and Northern Ireland will follow, with the latter focused on the ongoing talks to restore devolution at Stormont.

There has been no government in Northern Ireland since January 2017 because of disagreements between the DUP and Sinn Fein, with attempts to restore their power-sharing agreement having proved fruitless.

His attempt to win the backing of people in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland through his so-called growth deals plan follows the announcement of a £3.6bn fund to help an initial 100 towns in England.

In his first speech outside Westminster since replacing Theresa May, Mr Johnson also promised a new high-speed rail route between Manchester and Leeds to help boost development in the North.