Scotland news: Boris Johnson says independence ‘irrelevant’ and SNP pledges record NHS spending

Boris Johnson has said arguments about another referendum on Scottish independence were “completely irrelevant” during a visit to Scotland to extoll the benefits of the union.

The prime minister insisted the 2014 vote was a once-in-a-generation referendum and said there was no advantage in “pointless constitutional wrangling”.

Meanwhile, Scotland’s finance secretary announced a record NHS funding of £16bn as part of a Budget aimed at dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

It comes as Jacob Rees-Mogg called Nicola Sturgeon “Moanalot” after she said the prime minister’s trip was not an essential journey.

Read more:

• PM visit to Scotland ‘not essential’, says Sturgeon

• Scotland unable to fight Covid-19 as effectively without England, PM to claim

• The unique ‘four nation’ construct is at severe risk of being broken apart

• Scottish Tory leader would boycott ‘wildcat’ referendum

• Scotland on course to miss ‘ambitious’ emissions goals

• John Rentoul: Johnson’s trip to Scotland won’t save the union, but at least he’s trying