BORIS Johnson has been branded “utterly delusional” after being confronted with warnings his immigration plans could be disastrous for Scotland.

In a heated exchange with Ian Blackford at Prime Minister’s Questions, the Tory leader dismissed widespread condemnation of his proposals from Scottish business organisations and workers’ bodies.

Blackford began his critique by citing a Federation of Small Businesses in Scotland report which found 40% of Scots small firms have at least one EU worker on the books. By comparison, the UK average is 26%, an increase of 5% over the same period.

The study warned the Prime Minister’s immigration plans could force a fifth of Scotland’s small companies to close down or face a radical change to their business model.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson’s migration plan could close a fifth of Scots firms

Nicola Sturgeon has proposed a separate visa to ensure the Scotland’s specific immigration needs are met in an attempt to limit damage to the country’s economy after Brexit. Those proposals were rejected outright by Downing Street.

Blackford said: “Immigration is crucial for Scotland’s economy. So it’s no wonder that the Scottish Government’s proposals for a Scottish visa system have been universally welcomed by businesses and charities alike – even the Scottish Tories think it’s a good idea.

“The Prime Minister rejected these proposals within a few short hours. Will he now admit this was a mistake?”

READ MORE: Scottish Tories 'livid' about Boris Johnson’s immigration proposals

Johnson said the proposals had not only been rejected by him but also by the Migration Advisory Committee. He said the Government was “taking back control of immigration with a points-based system”.

The Prime Minister stated: “We will ensure, because the right honourable gentleman has important concerns to raise, that everywhere in this country – all businesses, all agricultural sectors, all the fishing communities – will be able to access the labour and the workforce that they need.”

Those comments come after the CEO of the Scottish Seafood Association warned the Tory immigration system would be “catastrophic” for the industry in Scotland.

READ MORE: Brexit-backing fishing sector chief ready to support SNP’s migration plans

Johnson then claimed: “But what would be the height of insanity … would be proceeding with the SNP’s solution of a border at Berwick between England and Scotland.”

Blackford replied: “Once again the Prime Minister shows he is utterly delusional” – a comment which was met which laughter from the Tory benches.

He pointed out that Johnson’s “damaging” immigration plans have been condemned by Scottish Care, the Scottish Tourism Alliance, NFU Scotland and the general secretary of the GMB union.

The SNP Westminster leader said: “We know that senior figures in the UK Government have said what the Scottish Parliament decides, and I quote ‘doesn’t matter one jot’.

“If the Prime Minister thinks the Scottish Parliament doesn’t matter, do Scottish businesses matter?”

Johnson said “of course” Scottish businesses matter. He added that the “way to do well by Scottish businesses would not be to tax them with the highest tax rates in the UK”.

READ MORE: Tory prompts Twitter fury with outrageous claim about Scotland

Attacks based on Scottish tax rates have been a common theme in recent comments from Tory politicians, despite Alister Jack recently recognising that the majority of Scots will pay less tax than those in the rest of the UK for a third consecutive year.

A Tory MP was lambasted on social media this week for claiming that people moving to Scotland would be “clobbered” by higher tax rates.