Anas Sarwar has urged Scotland’s Tory MPs to back an investigation into Boris Johnson’s partygate law-breaking.
The Scottish Labour leader dismissed Johnson as the “greatest threat” to the Union and urged them to hold their boss to account.
MPs will vote today on whether Johnson should be probed by a Westminster committee after he received a fixed penalty notice for attending a Downing Street party during lockdown.
Anger is mounting over the Prime Minister’s behaviour, but his large Tory majority is expected to save him from a referral.
It is particularly awkward for Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross, who initially called for Johnson to quit before changing his mind.
Ross, who is an MSP and MP, was branded "pathetic" this week after it emerged he would not take part in the crunch vote.
In a letter to the five other Scottish Tory MPs - Alister Jack, Andrew Bowie, David Mundell, John Lamont and David Duguid - Sarwar pleaded with them to support an investigation into whether Johnson misled Parliament.
He wrote: “I was dismayed yesterday to hear that your party leader, Douglas Ross, has chosen that this issue is not important enough for him to vote on .
“The real judge of a politician’s character is what they do when what is right clashes with what is personally convenient for them.”
He added: “You and other Tory MPs have a choice - you can act in the interest of your personal ambitions or in the interests of preserving the UK.
“What has become clear is that Boris Johnson is not afraid to burn any institution or any of his colleagues’ careers in order to protect his own skin.
“Every day he stays in office is a day his lies and failures help the SNP recruit for their campaign to break up our country. The United Kingdom deserves better.
“So, on Thursday will you protect our Union or will you vote to save the skin of a man who is its greatest threat?
“The choice is a clear one. You are either on the side of doing what is necessary to protect the UK, or you are not.”
A recent opinion poll found that the partygate scandal is having a damaging impact on the Scottish Tories’ council election campaign.
The snapshot found Scottish Labour in second place ahead of the Conservatives, who languishing in third.
A spokesman for the Scottish Tories said: “All our MPs, MSPs and councillors are focused on beating the SNP so we can deliver on voter’s local priorities.”
A party source said Ross would miss the vote as he would be taking part in First Minister’s Questions.
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