BORIS Johnson faced a protest from Scottish independence supporters during his trip to Fraserburgh yesterday.

The Prime Minister was in Scotland on a two-day trip with his focus on COP26 – meeting with police to discuss their plans for the major UN event and visiting the Moray Offshore Windfarm East.

Johnson’s climate focus has since been overshadowed by his “crass joke” about Margaret Thatcher closing coal mines.

The Tory leader was asked about setting a deadline for moving from oil and gas to renewables – he replied: “Look at what we’ve done already. We've transitioned away from coal in my lifetime.

"Thanks to Margaret Thatcher who closed so many coal mines across the country we had a big early start and we’re now moving rapidly away from coal altogether.”

He reportedly then laughed and told journalists: "I thought that would get you going."

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon responded furiously to the PM’s comments, telling him: “Lives and communities in Scotland were utterly devastated by Thatcher’s destruction of the coal industry (which had zero to do with any concern she had for the planet). To treat that as something to laugh about is crass and deeply insensitive to that reality.”

READ MORE: Boris Johnson slammed for 'crass jokes' about Margaret Thatcher closing coal mines

Yesterday, when heading home from the offshore wind farm, Johnson was faced by a small number of Yes supporters holding Saltires in Fraserburgh Harbour. One pro-UK counter-protester held a Union flag in response.

A small number of police were in attendance but the protest did not appear to disrupt the Prime Minister’s visit.

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