BORIS Johnson has not given any access to Scottish newspapers for his chief aide Dominic Cummings's press conference at 4pm today.

The National has learnt that only broadcasters, the Press Association and "a handful" of London-based titles have been permitted to attend to the event at the Downing Street Rose Garden.

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The Mirror who broke the story along with the Guardian on Saturday about Cummings travelling from London to Durham during lockdown will be among the reporters attending.

The Mirror's political editor tweeted: "Dominic Cummings will make his statement in the Downing Street Rose Garden, No 10 confirms.

He will take questions from the press - including @DailyMirror."

It is understood no newspapers outside London - including any titles from North East of England - have been invited. 

Earlier this year Johnson failed to ask any journalists from Scottish-based publications to a Downing Street press briefing on negotiations on the future relationship of the UK and EU.

The snub in February was pointed out by The Scotsman’s Westminster correspondent Paris Gourtsoyannis after several political reporters and editors from London-based newspapers were also banned from the meeting – which prompted a boycott by many other publications.