BORIS Johnson’s furlough fudge risks leaving Douglas Ross without a "shred of credibility", Ian Blackford has said.

The SNP Westminster echoed calls from the First Minister for clarity after a Tory minister appeared to backtrack on a pledge to provide full furlough payments to Scots whenever they are required.

Ross, however, maintains that Johnson has provided a cast-iron guarantee. 

The Prime Minister, pressed on the issue last night in the Commons, said the funding would be available to Scotland whenever it is requested by Holyrood.

In response to a question from Ross, Johnson said: "If other parts of the United Kingdom decide to go into measures which require the furlough scheme, of course it is available to them ... it applies not just now but in the future as well."

However, this morning, Cabinet minister Robert Jenrick appeared to backtrack on the commitment. He said the payments would only be in place until December 2, when the English lockdown is scheduled to be lifted.

The Housing Secretary added that is "a decision that the Chancellor will have to make in the future”.

Steve Barclay, chief secretary to the Treasury, as well as the Prime Minister's spokesman have both been quizzed about the issue since Jenrick's interview. Neither has offered a definitive response.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon demands answers after Tory minister backtracks on PM's furlough vow

Blackford commented: "If the Prime Minister is already back-tracking it will prove, yet again, that you cannot trust a word he says – and that Scotland will never be treated as an equal partner in the UK.

"The evasion and confusion from the Tory government is disgraceful. We are in the middle of a pandemic – people's lives and livelihoods are at stake. It is crucial that the Scottish Government can take timely action to protect people's lives, in the knowledge that full financial support will be available for workers and businesses whenever it is requested.”

He called for guarantees on full 80% furlough payments, with eligibility rules remaining unchanged and flexibility being applied to the self-employed scheme.

The SNP MP added: “Without these assurances the Tory government will be hindering Scotland's ability to respond to this crisis, and risk putting people's lives and livelihoods under threat.”

He continued: "This shambles has also become a serious question of judgement for Douglas Ross, who will be left without a shred of credibility if these commitments unravel having been so quick to claim credit despite his own eleventh-hour conversion.”

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The Scottish Tory leader, who was last night lauded by his colleagues for a last-minute push for the Prime Minister to provide furlough assurances, has today claimed there is “no doubt” that the UK Government’s furlough scheme will help protect Scottish jobs in the event of another lockdown.

Despite the confusion sparked by Jenrick’s intervention, Ross insists that Johnson will stick by his pledge.

The Moray MP said: “I have not been shy about calling out the UK Government when it’s necessary. But I am in no doubt that the UK furlough scheme, which has already protected nearly a million Scottish jobs, will be there to save Scottish jobs again.

“After the Scottish Conservatives argued strongly that extending furlough was an absolute must, the guarantee to protect Scottish jobs has been made. The Prime Minister’s commitment is definitive.

“It’s rich to hear the SNP complain of a lack of clarity when they couldn’t make their mind up for weeks about what’s a café or a restaurant."

Nicola Sturgeon, speaking at the coronavirus briefing, said the UK Government still had not provided sufficient detail.

She responded to Ross on Twitter.

SNP MP Drew Hendry added: "Definitive as mud."