A SCOTTISH Tory MP has been accused of making “ludicrous” claims about Boris Johnson’s trip to Scotland.
Andrew Bowie accused the First Minister of being “utterly unprofessional” after she publicly invited Boris Johnson to Bute House, following reports that the Tory leader was heading north this week.
Bowie, MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, suggested the invitation breached security protocols.
He also rejected the assertion that Johnson was “visiting” the country because he is “Scotland’s Prime Minister”.
The comments have been rubbished by the SNP, who said the Conservative MP was “scraping the barrel”.
The First Minister announced on social media that she had written to Number 10 to ask Johnson to join her at Bute House.
She said that despite political difference, their administrations must “work together where we can”
Johnson has since declined the invitation.
But Bowie was angered by Sturgeon's public statement.
He replied: “Pretty poor show, utterly unprofessional (although par for the course with our First Minister) and against all standard security considerations if the PM is coming North to announce it on twitter in advance.
“Even if he is, he's not ‘visiting’, he's Scotland's Prime Minister.”
1. Pretty poor show, utterly unprofessional (although par for the course with our First Minister) and against all standard security considerations if the PM is coming North to announce it on twitter in advance.
— Andrew Bowie MP (@AndrewBowie_MP) August 2, 2021
2. Even if he is, he's not "visiting", he's Scotland's Prime Minister https://t.co/1RnWEeXuN1
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon invites Boris Johnson to face-to-face talks in Bute House
An SNP spokesperson told The National: "Andrew Bowie is really scraping the barrel here.
“Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland was already being reported in the media – and the notion that there are any ‘security considerations’ from simply repeating that it is understood he will be somewhere in Scotland at some point this week is ludicrous.”
Last time the Prime Minister visited Bute House, in July 2019, Scots were given sufficient notice to arrange a large-scale protest outside the official residence.
The newly appointed Tory leader was jeered on his way in, and opted to slip out the back door after the meeting.
Johnson has not visited Scotland since late January, and was conspicuous in his absence ahead of May's Holyrood election.
In her letter to Number 10 this week, Sturgeon wrote: “I understand you will be in Scotland later this week and thought this might offer us an opportunity to meet in person in Edinburgh for a discussion on the current Covid situation and our respective plans for recovery — focusing, obviously, on the areas where it is important that our governments work together.
“I would be happy to welcome you to Bute House and hereby extend an invitation.”
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