BORIS JOHNSON’S “dangerous form of English nationalism” puts the continued existence of the UK in jeopardy, Richard Leonard warned today.

The Scottish Labour leader joined a chorus of criticism of the new Tory leader north of the border.

Mr Leonard blasted: “The Tory Party he now leads is a real and present danger to Scotland’s place in the UK.

“A no-deal Brexit led by Boris Johnson spells disaster for our country and it is unforgivable for the Scottish Tories to back him. 

“Only Scottish Labour is standing up for Scotland’s place in the UK, for the UK’s place in Europe and against a harmful no-deal Brexit.”

SNP First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Mr Johnson’s vow to leave the EU in October was a “deeply irresponsible threat.”

She said that this should “now be taken off the table without delay or equivocation.”

She congratulated Mr Johnson on his win, but said her “profound concerns” over a Johnson premiership were “shared by the vast majority of people in Scotland.”

Ms Sturgeon said the fact Scottish voters had not voted “for Brexit, or for the current Tory government — and certainly not for Boris Johnson — underlines the need for Scotland to have the right to determine our own future.”

The Scottish Greens said his premiership reinforced the case for a fresh independence referendum at the earliest opportunity.

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said: “Scotland needs a route out of Boris’s Brexit Britain.

“While we already have a firm mandate to hold a referendum, Johnson’s elevation to the office of Prime Minister on the back of bluff and bluster is hugely concerning and reinforces the need to hold this vote urgently.”

Meanwhile Scottish Tories performed reverse-ferrets over Mr Johnson.

Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson has previously been critical of the former foreign secretary — banning him from the Scottish Conservatives’ conference this spring.

But today she offered her congratulations, saying the Tories “can be proud of the manner in which [the leadership election] has been conducted.”

Scotland Secretary David Mundell argued last October that Mr Johnson “seems to behave in a way that suggests he is only focused on his own self-interest and not on the interests of our country.”

But today he said: “Our party must now unite behind the new leader and Prime Minister so we can get on with the job of delivering Brexit while maintaining a strong United Kingdom.”