BORIS Johnson courts controversy every time he visits Scotland, whether it’s a jaunt to Peterhead to “reassure” fisherfolk that Brexit would be good for them, or suffering the ignominy of having to exit the First Minister’s official residence by the “Bute chute” – the back door of Bute House.

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On that occasion independence campaigner Martin Keatings submitted a freedom of information request to Police Scotland about the costs of policing the PM’s visit – a request that was initially rebuffed.

The National:

However, Keatings’s persistence paid off and he was later told it had cost the best part of £50,000.

He says people should know how much this trip is costing: “Not only is Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland unnecessary and therefore a violation of coronavirus regs, but it is also going to expend police resources during a pandemic.

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“I’ve put in another FOISA request for this visit to Police Scotland which should be much easier on the basis that the appeal last time over the decision not to release data, was overturned and it was subsequently released.”