SCOTTISH Labour leadership candidate Monica Lennon last night condemned Boris Johnson’s visit to Scotland – putting her at odds with UK leader of the party, Sir Keir Starmer.

The Central Scotland MSP, who is the party’s health spokesperson at Holyrood, hit out at the Prime Minister’s trip which Nicola Sturgeon had previously suggested was not essential.

“For Boris Johnson to travel hundreds of miles across the country for no other reason than his own personal publicity sends entirely the wrong message as people make so many personal sacrifices to adhere to the current lockdown,” Lennon told The National.

Currently only travel deemed essential is permitted in Scotland under the current lockdown. Travel not considered essential is in breach of Scotland’s travel ban, which prohibits travelling between Scotland and all other parts of the UK and the Irish Republic, unless for a “reasonable excuse”. Travel for work is allowed if the work cannot be done from home.

Earlier Starmer defended Johnson’s trip, insisting the mid-pandemic visit was “legitimate”.

He told LBC radio he backed Johnson’s visit, adding: “He is Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, of course it’s legitimate.”

READ MORE: Sir Keir Starmer defends Boris Johnson's 'legitimate' trip to Scotland

Asked about Johnson’s journey during the Scottish Government’s daily coronavirus briefing on Wednesday, Sturgeon said rules against travelling unless it is really essential had to “apply to all of us”.

She added: “People like me and Boris Johnson have to be in work for reasons that I think most people understand, but we don’t have to travel across the UK, as part of that.”