BORIS Johnson has faced heavy criticism after he compared the plight of Ukraine to people voting for Brexit.

The Prime Minister was addressing the Conservative "spring forum" in Blackpool, which was being held at the same time as the Scottish Conservative conference in Aberdeen.

Speaking to delegates, Johnson said: “I know it’s the instincts of people of this country, like the people of Ukraine, to choose freedom every time.

“I can give you a couple of recent examples. When the British people voted for Brexit in such large numbers, I don’t believe it was because they are remotely hostile to foreigners, it’s because they wanted to be free to do things differently, for this country to be able to do things differently and run itself.”

Sharing a clip of the moment, journalist Alex Taylor wrote: “Words fail me that this loathsome man actually just compared the Ukrainian people's current quest for freedom to the UK voting for Brexit.

“Just when you thought he couldn't sink to new depths.”

The outrage was widespread and came from across the spectrum.

Columnist Ian Dunt commented: “This is one of the most obscene things I've seen a western leader say since the war began. And I really couldn't give a goddamn what someone's view on Brexit is. No-one with integrity would make this comparison.”

This post was shared by the First Minister.

Nicola Sturgeon further shared a post from Anne Applebaum, a journalist and author, who said: "He is doing this because he knows Brexit is a disaster, it has isolated Britain, made Britain poorer, less influential.

"He needs extreme forms of hyperbole to cover the gap between that reality and the false utopia that he and others promised."

The National:

Meanwhile SNP Westminster chief Ian Blackford said: “Boris Johnson’s comments comparing Ukraine’s life-threatening situation with Brexit was crass and distasteful, and shows just how dangerously obsessed the Tories are with Brexit.

“Instead of prioritising his extreme Brexit and making unhelpful comparisons, the Prime Minister should be following the example of our European allies and waiving visa requirements for all Ukrainian refugees seeking safety in the UK, scrapping the anti-refugee Nationality and Borders Bill and taking action to put money in people’s pockets to help them through the cost of living crisis that his Tory government has exacerbated.

“It is comments like these that prove how unfit for office this Partygate Prime Minister is.”

The Times’s Alex Massie added: “Grotesque. (And grotesque regardless of how you or anyone else voted in the Brexit referendum.)”

Labour MP Chris Bryant said: “This is an utterly depraved argument. Ukraine wants to join the EU. The people of France and Spain are also free.”

It comes after the Scottish Conservatives criticised SNP figures including Michael Russell, accusing him of linking Ukraine to the issue of independence.