Boris Johnson has claimed he is "working hard" with Scottish Conservatives despite the majority of his MSPs calling on him to resign.
The Prime Minister used a visit to Rosyth dockyard today to hail the announcement of a joint deal between the UK and Scottish Governments which will see two freeports eventually opened north of the Border.
But Johnson could not find the time to meet Douglas Ross or any of the other Scots Tories who have publicly demanded he exit Downing Street in the wake of the Partygate scandal.
The embattled Conservative leader has lost the support of the majority of his MSPs at Holyrood as well as former Scottish party leader Ruth Davidson.
The PM instead used his visit to Rosyth in Fife - heavily tipped to become the location of one of the new freeports - to promote the UK Government's levelling-up agenda.
Asked about his personal authority north of the Border, Johnson told the BBC: "I'm working very hard with my colleagues in Scotland on our joint agenda - of uniting, and levelling-up for the whole of the UK.
"We're very proud of what the UK Government has done at all levels to get us through covid very effectively so we now have the fastest growing economy in the G7."
Responding to Johnson's visit, Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "Almost every time the Prime Minister crosses the border into Scotland he makes the case for the Union harder.
“We do have a duty to make a strong case for Union.
"That’s what I’ve been doing when I go to Scotland but this Prime Minister does not help that cause.”
The Tory-backed plan to open freeports across the UK has already caused a rare disagreement between the SNP and Greens at Holyrood.
Freeports are tax-free zones around docks, airports or railway hubs designed to boost economic growth by exempting goods arriving in them from tax and customs charges.
But Greens MSP Ross Greer has dismissed them as a "corporate giveaway", while the STUC claimed they created "tax evasion and money laundering".
Asked whether freeports would draw investment away from elsewhere, Johnson said: "I don't think so.
"If you look at the attitude of the Scottish Government, it's been fantastic, they've really got the point and they can see the advantages of the free ports.
"I'm not allowed to give away the locations, but they can genuinely drive huge numbers of jobs.
"Here in Rosyth, we've got a fantastic thing going on with the Type 31 frigate building programme that's driving 2,500 jobs here in Scotland.
"Many, many more can be created with the free ports."
SNP finance secretary Kate Forbes had earlier been forced to defend her government's support for freeports in the face of Green opposition.
She said: "We want the prospectus to be published in March so we hope that that will mean that we can make announcements over the summer about winning bids."
When asked if she could give away any hints on which businesses could be in line to win a spot in the special economic zones offering tax breaks and lower tariffs, Forbes refused to comment.
She added: "There will be a fair process and the perspectives will be clear on what we’re looking for.
"And obviously contenders will be required to set out those decarbonisation plans as well as adherence to fair work practices.”
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