DOUGLAS Ross has refused to back Boris Johnson to lead the Conservatives into the next General Election, despite U-turning on calls for the Prime Minister to step down.

Ross further said that Johnson would not be campaigning for the Scottish Tories during the upcoming local elections.

The Prime Minister did not campaign for the Scottish Tories ahead of the Holyrood election in 2021, with claims that he had been told to keep away by the party for fears his unpopularity would rub off on them.

Johnson had previously said that “wild horses” would not keep him from campaigning.

READ MORE: Douglas Ross makes 'nonsense' excuse for Boris Johnson avoiding Scotland

Speaking to The Telegraph, Ross fed rumours of an enduring rift with the UK party leader by refusing to back Johnson to lead the Conservatives into the next General Election.

Asked about the issue, Ross said: “I'm fully focused on the international crisis and the war in Ukraine, not some future General Election years down the line.

“Previous reservations I had are the last thing on my mind when I see Russia bombing children's wards.”

However, he insisted there was no “personal rift” between him and Johnson, but just “a disagreement on one fundamental issue”.

The news comes after Ross U-turned on calls for Johnson to resign, withdrawing a letter of no confidence he had sent in to the Westminster 1922 Committee.

The Scottish Tory chief whip, Stephen Kerr, said that Ross had made a “personal” decision to back the Prime Minister and declined to say if he agreed with it.

Kerr further said that the Scots Tory group at Holyrood had not been told of Ross’s U-turn as quickly as he would have liked.