CABINET Secretary Chloe Smith has justified the exclusion of Scottish media at a Number 10 press briefing yesterday, arguing "there are national broadcasters here who deal with all parts of this country".

The SNP's longest serving MP, Pete Wishart, put a question on the subject to the Tory MP in the Commons this afternoon.

The Perth and North Perthshire MP compared Boris Johnson to Donald Trump after the Tory Government barred a number of journalists from - and invited no Scottish media to - a press briefing on the UK and EU's future relationship yesterday.

READ MORE: Media boycott after Scottish titles are snubbed by Downing Street

Reporters allowed in were asked to stand on one side of a rug in a Number 10 foyer, while those who had been barred - including reporters for Huffington Post and The Mirror - were asked by security to stand on the other side.

Labour leadership hopeful Keir Starmer has now called on the head of the civil service to investigate the "deeply disturbing" move.

Speaking in the Commons, Wishart said:“No amount of sleekit self-justified nonsense from the honourable lady is going to get her off the Trumpian hook. Next thing the Prime Minister will be talking about fake new and banning broadcasters – oh wait, he already has!

“Just how sinister can it get? Names of journalists read out in groups assembled one either side of a rug before it’s announced who would have access, and who would be excluded – all Scottish media outlets weren’t even told about this briefing."

The SNP MP went on to congratulate journalists for showing solidarity and refusing to cover the briefing when their colleagues were barred.

He went on: "We know this is a Prime Minister who dislikes scrutiny, who actively hides from the press. We know that Dominic Cummings and his henchman have their own agenda and are actively trying to bypass and diminish media, and we all know that the Prime Minister looks like a prize buffoon under hard questions he does not like. Isn’t that the real reason that we have this particular agenda minister?"

Smith denied that was the case and suggested his criticism was ironic given former first minister Alex Salmond's history of barring journalists from briefings.

She then denied the need for Scottish media to attend such a briefing.

“We on this side of the Chamber and I think in other parts of this house as well are proud Unionists," she said. "And we recognise that there are national broadcasters here who deal with all parts of this country and long may that last.”

During urgent questions on the incident, Smith said it was "routine" for lobby briefings to be held twice daily, adding: "In addition to that, these specialist and technical briefings."

But even Tory backbenchers hit out at the decision, with former Cabinet minister Damian Green saying there is a need for  "better arrangements for lobby briefings than were taking place yesterday".