Boris Johnson has insisted he does not oppose devolution, after reportedly saying it had been a "disaster" in Scotland.

Addressing Scottish Conservatives, the prime minister said he only "criticised the performance of devolution" under the Scottish National Party.

"I don't want to oppose devolution as a concept in itself," he said.

The SNP says independence is the only way to "protect and strengthen" the Scottish Parliament.

In a speech by video link to the party's conference, Mr Johnson said reports he had told Tory MPs devolution was a "disaster" and "Tony Blair's biggest mistake" had not reflected his words "entirely accurately".

"The way SNP have handled devolution in Scotland has been a disaster," he said, criticising the party's performance on education along with people's satisfaction with public services and describing it as an "abysmal record".

Boris Johnson denies he wants to undermine Scottish devolution https://t.co/3GNC2iAyYn

— BBC Politics (@BBCPolitics) November 21, 2020

He cited his experience as mayor of London as an example of his support for devolution, saying it could help deliver green transport policies or in tackling crime.

"Devolution should be used not by politicians as a wall to sequester, to break away, an area of the UK from the rest," Mr Johnson said.

"It should be used as a step to pass power to local communities and businesses to make their lives better. It's that kind of localism which I believe in and want to take further."

He said the coronavirus crisis showed how important it was for the nations of the UK to work together, adding that there was no time for "division and distraction" and the "focus on separation has got to stop".

Thanking First Minister Nicola Sturgeon for her co-operation, he said Scotland had benefited from being part of "one of the world's leading scientific superpowers" during the pandemic, with vaccine stocks, testing and other technologies.

The jobs of more than 900,000 Scottish workers were protected by the furlough scheme and 80,000 businesses were given government grants or loans, the prime minister said.

"Covid-19 doesn't care about constitutional arrangements," Mr Johnson added. "We all need to work together to protect health and jobs of the people of Scotland."