BORIS Johnson’s visit to Scotland came amid rising support for independence and plummeting approval ratings for the Tory leader – but how did the Unionist media react to his trip?
The Prime Minister headed to Orkney first yesterday morning to meet with fishermen in Stromness, but was greeted by about 200 pro-independence demonstrators lining his route there from Kirkwall.
When he moved on to Moray, Yessers were waiting at Kinloss Barracks showing their support for self-determination.
Before travelling north, the SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown said Johnson was in “panic mode” due to falling support for the Union.
READ MORE: Bute Mouse: Boris says he won’t meet Nicola in Edinburgh again
Last night the Tory leader reportedly told party activists he won’t be visiting Nicola Sturgeon in Bute House again. He did not meet with the First Minister during his stay yesterday.
Today Johnson’s claims that the pandemic have shown the strength of the Union were shown up as a poll of more than 3000 UK residents found just 3% of his own voters think the UK is stronger than it was five years ago.
The Scottish editions of the Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Times and Express presented the most positive takes on Johnson’s brief spell in the country.
As well as featuring an optimistic leader about how the UK can “bounce back” as one, the Daily Mail splash showed Johnson smiling while holding two crabs with the headline: “Crabbit? Boris Johnson was positively bouncing”.
The Daily Telegraph highlighted another picture of the PM with the fishermen, alongside the headline: “UK will come back stronger, says PM in Scotland”.
The Times also picked an image of Johnson with the crabs next to the headline: “PM nurtures Union with extra £1.9bn”.
And the Express went for “Boris pledges UK can bounce back as one”, with the extra sub-heading: “And we won’t budge on Brexit fishing rights either”.
Inside the papers, the Daily Mail gave a glowing review of Johnson’s visit and pushed the idea that the UK nations will “bounce back” as one – failing to mention Scottish independence support has actually been rising since the beginning of the year.
In recent weeks polls have put backing for Yes on 54%, but surveys from months back had it sitting around 52%.
The Daily Mail leader reads: “On his trip to Scotland yesterday, Boris Johnson was right to emphasise that the ‘sheer might’ of the Union has helped us to survive the crisis.
“It was disingenuous of Nicola Sturgeon to suggest this amounted to ‘celebrating’ Covid-19 to ‘make a constitutional argument’.”
The leader went on to praise the UK Government furlough scheme, which has so far protected 900,000 Scottish jobs.
It adds: “The Prime Minister was also right to stress the role of the Union in rebuilding the shattered economy.
READ MORE: Conservatives don't believe claim the Union is stronger than ever
“As he pointed out, there are differences across the UK in the exit paths from lockdown as a result of devolution, though often they are superficial.
“In reality, we are united by a common objective – beating the coronavirus and restoring normality after months of crippling lockdown.
“The SNP will always seek to exploit division to fulfil its eternal aim of ripping apart the United Kingdom.”
It concludes that the independence push will “ultimately fail” because it is “negative and reckless” – and says Johnson’s message is that we will bounce back stronger together.
After Johnson ruled out indyref2 and made the economic case for the Union yesterday, Sturgeon said: “I don’t think any of us should be championing and celebrating a pandemic that has taken thousands of lives as an example of the pre-existing political case we want to make.”
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