Boris Johnson has been ridiculed for failing to deny that Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross is a “lightweight”.
The under-fire Prime Minister was caught out in the House of Commons when Labour’s Stephen Kinnock asked if he agreed with Jacob Rees-Mogg’s dismissal of Ross as a “lightweight” after the Moray MP called on Johnson to resign.
Already reeling from a Tory defection the Prime Minister could not bring himself to defend Ross, one of the first MPs to call for his resignation, at Question Time in the Commons.
Instead Johnson said that the Conservative approach to the Union was right for the country.
He said: "The Conservative approach to the union is one that I think is right for our country.
"We want to keep it together and I think Conservatives in Scotland do an excellent job and that's why their stout defence of the union was repaid at the last election."
Ian Murray, Labour’s Shadow Scottish Secretary, said both the Prime Minister and Douglas Ross were a “laughing stock amid a Tory civil war.
Murray said: “The Prime Minister won’t defend him, and even Tories in Scotland now recognise the Conservatives aren’t fit for office and can’t stand up for the Union.
“ Douglas Ross ’ previous claims that the Tories are strong for the Union are left as nothing but a laughing stock.”
“Boris Johnson’s shambolic government is collapsing around him, with a Tory MP now defecting to Labour because he recognises that the best way to deliver security and prosperity is through a Labour government."
Scottish Tory MSPs have backed Mr Ross’s call for the the Prime Minister’s resignation, but the six Scottish Conservative MPs in Westminster have not and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has remained loyal.
Asked about the criticism last week, Ross said: " Jacob Rees-Mogg, as anyone, is entitled to their opinions. I don't have to agree with them.
"I'm not going to get into personal attacks.
"As I see, he's entitled to his opinion, everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
"I disagree with Jacob Rees-Mogg on his characterisation of me, but he's entitled to make it."
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