THE Prime Minister has told Cabinet ministers to visit Scotland more frequently as polls continue to show increased support for independence, Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP.
As the Cabinet met in person for the first time since lockdown, Boris Johnson urged ministers to do more to promote the work of the UK Government in Scotland.
The Union was a key part of yesterday's discussions, with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack backing calls to demonstrate its purpose more.
A UK Government source told the Mail: “The Prime Minister urged Cabinet colleagues to spend more time in Scotland and appear more in the Scottish media.
“There was agreement around the Cabinet table and that should happen.
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“Alister [Jack] underlined that message and said the UK Government as a whole needs to be more vocal about what it is doing in Scotland.”
Johnson’s plea came as he prepared to visit Scotland tomorrow, where he will spend time promoting the work his government’s furlough scheme has done to protect Scottish jobs.
UK Government ministers have repeatedly claimed that the pandemic has proved the worth of the Union – though analysis of recent opinion polling suggests large numbers of people in Scotland don’t see it that way.
In another meeting yesterday Scottish Tory director Mark McInnes warned Johnson and his colleagues that support for independence is sitting at around 54%, while the First Minister’s popularity rating has soared over the last few months.
Sources at the meeting said his presentation of the facts was “frank and honest” with “no sugar-coating of the pills”.
Scottish Tory leader Jackson Carlaw did not attend the Downing Street meeting, but will catch up with Johnson while he is in Scotland tomorrow.
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