Boris Johnson makes his first visit to Scotland as Prime Minister

by the SNP
Posted on
5 years ago
2 min read

The UK’s new Prime Minister began his visit to Scotland at a high-security military base, and didn’t interact with the public once during the trip.

Remarkably, whilst answering media questions at Faslane, Boris Johnson was seemingly unsure about how many independence referendums there had been so far in Scotland.

He said: “In 2014 there was a historic vote. I think it was the only one there’s been in my lifetime that I can remember? Yes, it was. The only vote on Scottish independence that I can remember in my lifetime, and I’m 55, is the only time it’s happened.”

Meeting Scotland’s First Minister

After a brief visit to the Scottish Parliament to meet with Ruth Davidson, the new Prime Minister met with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon at Bute House.

Johnson was met with booing from the public as one journalist posed the question, “Are you the last Prime Minister of the UK, Mr Johnson?” There was no response.

Talking to journalists afterwards, the First Minister said: “We had a very lively discussion, we had a session where it was just the two of us in the room and then we were joined by our officials.

“In both of those sessions we had a very lively exchange of views about independence. I made clear my government’s intentions to pass the framework Bill to allow a referendum to take place next year.

“He made the case that he was for the Union, and didn’t think Scotland should have the right to choose.”

When Nicola Sturgeon challenged Boris Johnson to a TV debate on Scottish independence, the Prime Minister’s advisor said it was probably time to go.

Johnson sneaked out of the back door of Bute House, avoiding the protesters outside.