THE newly appointed Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, has claimed that he can see no differerence between mainstream independence supporters and xenophonic, nationalist movements abroad.

Jack, writing in the London Times, stated: "Scottish nationalists like to claim theirs is a different kind of nationalism, somehow uniquely benign.

"I am sorry but I am not sure I can spot the difference.

"Like nationalist movements the world over, it requires an enemy to make it thrive. It needs another to rail against. It's all about finding something at which to take offence, so they pick fights about flags on packaging, scour news bulletins for examples of imaginary bias."

He cited a recent controversy over Union flags on food packaging as an example of "determination to find a grievance".

Jack, an ardent Brexiteer, did not address the recent surge in British nationalism, nor the ongoing accusations of Islamophobia and "othering" of immigrants within the Conservative party.

His comments coincide with the suspension of a senior party figure over comments made about First Minister Nicola Sturgeon experiencing a miscarriage.

Sturgeon and Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf have both expressed concerns over the connotations raised by the party's name in recent days, while the First Minister also explicitly said there is no room for anti-English extremists in her party.

Speaking to The Herald, SNP MP Tommy Sheppard said: "This is utterly desperate stuff from Boris Johnson's man in Scotland.

"Sadly this is the kind of thing we've come to expect from the Tories."

Jack also used his column in The Times to claim there is an "historic opportunity" for Scotland in Brexit while affirming his support for Boris Johnson.

He promised to "help the Prime Minister deliver Brexit" and "sweep away the cloud of uncertainty that has been hanging over us".

As well as farming, the Dumfries and Galloway MP used his piece to focus on fishing and the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

In the column Jack wrote: "When the UK leaves the EU, Scotland will finally take back control of Scottish fishing waters, among the richest in the northern hemisphere.

"And once we are out of the EU, we will have a historic opportunity to introduce new farming funding schemes to support Scottish farmers - and we will make sure that they get a better deal.

"Post Brexit, Scottish people will not want to go back to living under the ECJ, they will not want to hand back control of fishing.

"By strengthening the union, by showing the many advantages of belonging to the UK, we will also lift the second cloud of uncertainty facing Scotland, the First Minister's threat of a second independence referendum.

"That is a brighter vision than narrow, angry nationalism can offer. And it is why I am certain we can, and will, make a winning case for the union in the months and years ahead."