BORIS Johnson has said that Scottish independence is “just not going to happen”, as he predicted he will “certainly” survive as Prime Minister.

The Tory leader was speaking during his trip north of the Border, which saw him visit a shipyard in Rosyth but avoid a meeting with Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross.

Relations between the UK party and its Scots wing have soured since Ross and the vast majority of the MSP group he leads called on Johnson to leave No 10.

READ MORE: Scottish ship builders ‘owed an apology’ after Boris Johnson's visit to Rosyth

However, in an interview with the Scottish Daily Mail, the Prime Minister insisted that they would “certainly” both still be in post at the next General Election, currently scheduled for 2024.

Asked about the prospect of Scottish independence, Johnson claimed it would be “an economic disaster to split up our country”.

He said: "Just look at the experience of the last two years. Scotland and the whole of the UK has benefited massively from the might of the UK Exchequer, the UK Treasury, whether it is through furlough or any of the other things that we've done together.

"I think most people could see that it would be an economic disaster to split up our country. That is why it is just not going to happen."

During the visit, Johnson also claimed he was “working very hard with my colleagues in Scotland on our joint agenda of uniting and levelling up, and delivering for the people of the whole UK”.

He did not meet any Scottish Tories during his trip, however, with Ross opting to campaign in Perth ahead of May’s council elections rather than meet his boss.

That didn't prevent the Prime Minister heaping praise on the Moray MP, marking a significant change in tone from when he declined to say Ross was not a "lightweight".

Johnson said on Monday: “Every day Douglas gets up and campaigns for the Union of our country in a way that is absolutely passionate and I totally share.

“All I would say is there is far, far more that brings us together than separates us.”

The National: Douglas Ross

Kirsten Oswald MP, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, commented: “It is utterly absurd that Boris Johnson and Douglas Ross believe that they can both remain in office.

“How can Ross and the Scottish Tories possibly fight an election under a leader they think is unfit for office and should resign – not to forget that their Westminster bosses dismissed their Scottish Tory leader as a ‘lightweight’.

“It’s clear that Boris Johnson and Douglas Ross can’t both remain in post with any credibility.”

She added: “If Boris Johnson refuses to do the right thing and resign, then people will rightly question if they can take Douglas Ross seriously if he continues to limp on.”