MOST Tory voters think the Union is weaker than it was five years ago, according to a poll carried out as Boris Johnson visited Scotland yesterday.

Before his trip the Prime Minister claimed that the Union has never been stronger, despite independence support polling at 54% and plummeting approval ratings for the Tory leader.

It has since emerged his own voters do not agree with his view, with just 3% of Tory supporters saying they think the Union is stronger than it was in 2015.

READ MORE: Boris Johnson claims ‘Union has never been stronger’ ahead of Scottish visit

YouGov carried out a poll of 3685 adults across the UK yesterday as Johnson headed to Orkney and Moray, on what was branded a “panic mode” visit by the SNP.

The poll found 1% of Tories felt the Union was “much stronger”, and 2% thought it was “a bit stronger”.

About a third (34%) said it was “much the same before” – but a huge 53% felt it was either a bit or much weaker than in 2015.

The National:

Among Labour voters, there was more pessimism about the state of the Union. No voters said it was much stronger, 1% said it was a bit stronger, and 15% said it was about the same as five years ago.

Nearly three quarters (71%) of Labour voters said it was either a bit weaker or much weaker.

It was LibDem supporters who were the most concerned about the Union, with 78% saying it was a bit or much weaker than it was five years ago.

SNP MSP George Adam said that "even gullible Tories can see through Johnson’s bluster".

He went on: “His claims that coronavirus has strengthened the Union have no basis in reality - and Johnson himself is a contributory factor.

Nicola Sturgeon’s exemplary leadership during this crisis is in stark contrast to the stumbling incoherence of Johnson, his Cabinet and his lockdown-flouting advisor Dominic Cummings.

“The First Minister continues to demonstrate how the Scottish Government can react to crises like this pandemic by tailoring our response to best suit the needs of Scotland.

“A majority of Scots now support independence and no amount of deluded nonsense from Johnson will change that.”

In remarks released ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister claimed the coronavirus had proven the “sheer might of our Union”.

READ MORE: Scottish independence: Boris Johnson warned he can't deny democracy

Johnson said: “When I stood on the steps of Downing Street one year ago, I pledged to be a Prime Minister for every corner of the United Kingdom. Whether you are from East Kilbride or Dumfries, Motherwell or Paisley, I promised to level up across Britain and close the opportunity gap.

“The last six months have shown exactly why the historic and heartfelt bond that ties the four nations of our country together is so important and the sheer might of our Union has been proven once again.”

The Prime Minister again ruled out holding a second Scottish independence referendum while he was visiting yesterday.