Brexiteers warn EU ambassador that meddling in British politics is 'counterproductive' after he jibes 'who knows' whether the UK will exist in 20 years and voices 'pride' Scotland voted Remain

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Brexiteers today warned the EU's ambassador that meddling in British politics is 'counterproductive' after he suggested the UK may not exist in 20 years' time. 

Tory MPs hit back at Joao Vale de Almeida after he used an interview on the fifth anniversary of the referendum to say that both sides have to be 'ready for change'.

In remarks that are likely to infuriate Downing Street the Portuguese, 64, also voiced his pride at the support for the EU in Scotland -  which voted Remain in 2016.

The country's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also used the anniversary today to reiterate her determination to lead an independence Scotland back into the bloc.

But Cabinet minister Michael Gove last night said he 'can't see' Boris Johnson granting a new referendum on Scottish independence before the next general election.

Tory MP Mark Francois, chair of the Eurosceptic ERG group, said: ‘As today is the fifth anniversary of the EU referendum we all recall the intervention by Barack Obama in that campaign, which was completely counterproductive and only encouraged more people to vote Leave.

‘Now we have an EU ambassador attempting to follow his example by intervening in internal UK politics as well - I hope with similar results.’

Speaking to the Times today Mr Vale de Almeida questioned whether Brexit had actually been completed, despite the agreements which severed the UK after more than 40 years in December.

He told the paper Brexit had been 'done, in a way, but not done, in another way'. 

And discussing bilateral relations he said: 'I don't know what our relationship will be in 20 years' time. I don't know what the EU will be like in 20 years. 

'And maybe I don't know what your Union here will be like in 20 years' time. Who knows? So we have to be ready for change.'

Joao Vale de Almeida used an interview on the fifth anniversary of the referendum to say that both sides have to be 'ready for change'.

In remarks that are likely to infuriate Downing Street the Portuguese, 64, also voiced his pride at the support for the EU in Scotland - which voted Remain in 2016.

The country's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also used the anniversary today to reiterate her determination to lead an independence Scotland back into the bloc.

On Scotland he added: 'I'm proud of the support the EU has and the European project has in Scotland.'

Ms Sturgeon used an op-ed for the website Politico to play up the benefits of EU membership and migration for Scotland.

She attacked Boris Johnson for souring relations with the EU  and urged him to 'look not for conflict but cooperation, which is essential as we tackle global goals such as the climate emergency'. 

'Like all countries, we are thinking deeply about how to build a better society and a better world after the crisis is over,' she wrote.

'And for Scotland, I firmly believe our best future lies in once again joining the EU, which we were a part of for 47 years — this time as an independent country fully committed to the shared endeavor of EU membership and to our common European values.

'The people of Scotland may have lost — for now — the rights and responsibilities that come with EU citizenship, but we have not lost our commitment to European values.'

But Mr Gove - who is responsible for countering the push for independence - said the Prime Minister's focus was completely focused on recovery from the pandemic 'for the lifetime of this parliament'.

His comments - which are likely to infuriate the SNP - appear to go further than other ministers who have said that this is the wrong time for another referendum.

Under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, the next general election is not due until May 2024 - although Mr Johnson is committed to repealing the act which could allow him to go to the country before then.

Asked in an interview with The Daily Telegraph whether there was 'any circumstance' in which Mr Johnson would approve a referendum before a May 2024 election, Mr Gove said: 'I don't think so.'

Asked whether his position was that 'there will be no referendum before the 2024 election', he replied: 'I can't see it.'

After pro-independence parties won a majority in the elections to the Scottish Parliament in May, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it was 'a matter of when, not if' there would be a second referendum.

Mr Gove's intervention may heighten the chances that the SNP could try to hold a unilateral referendum without the approval of Westminster, which would almost certainly result in a legal battle through the courts.

Mr Gove however insisted that it was 'foolish' to talk about a referendum at a time when the country was still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

'The Prime Minister is completely focused on making sure that, for the lifetime of this parliament, we increase economic opportunity, we provide people with the chance to make more of their lives, take control of their futures. And that's quite rightly what the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom's focus should be,' he said.

'It seems to me to be at best reckless, at worst folly, to try to move the conversation on to constitutional division when people expect us to be working together in order to deal with these challenges.'