No bull, Boris takes back control (after paying too much for cod!)
BORIS Johnson flew into Scotland yesterday in a desperate bid to shore up support north of the Border following a turbulent week at Westminster.
The Prime Minister took a break from wrangling in the House of Commons to take on a far easier challenge – wrestling with Keene the bull.
He spent much of the day on Danford Farm near Banchory, Aberdeenshire, where his charm appeared to win over Remain-voting farm owner, Peter Watson.
Mr Watson described the Tory leader as a ‘breath of fresh air’ and urged him to ensure the UK now leaves the EU quickly.
However, the visit appeared to do little to lift the Prime Minister’s glum mood – even his tussle with the prize bull barely lifted his spirits.
Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson previously rode a bull for an election photo call. But it was unlikely that Mr Johnson could seek advice from the Edinburgh Central MSP, who resigned last week giving her family as the reason.
Mr Johnson did, however, pay tribute to her, saying he hoped she would reconsider her decision in the future.
He said: ‘I think she [Miss Davidson] was a wonderful leader. I hope that she will come back, by the way.
‘She clearly has a young family and she wants to devote herself to that at the moment. But she and I have had good conversations about this and, plainly, Ruth has a big future and I would want to see her come back.’
The Prime Minister also claimed that the Scottish Conservatives would retain all or most of their 13 Westminster seats in a general election – despite recent polls indicating that they will be all but wiped out in Scotland. A YouGov poll this week revealed that the Conservatives are set to lose ten seats in Scotland, with the SNP heading for a landslide.
The survey, published in The Times, had Nicola Sturgeon’s party on 51 seats following any snap election.
Miss Sturgeon has already claimed she would use an election victory to demand a Section 30 order – which would give her the power to hold a legally binding referendum on Scottish independence.
But Mr Johnson delivered a slap down to the First Minister as he claimed there was ‘no reason’ for him to allow a second independence referendum.
The Prime Minister said: ‘People were told in 2014 that the referendum was a once in a generation event and I don’t see why I should go back on it.’
Mr Johnson started his visit to Scotland at Peterhead Fish Market, where he raised eyebrows after paying well above the average price for a box of cod – splashing out £185 in an auction. Asked whether it was a good price, Simon Brebner, chief executive of the market, said: ‘If you’re selling, it’s a great price.
‘If you’re buying, maybe it’s a little high. It depends on supply and demand, but on Fridays you get good prices.’
But it was Mr Johnson’s comments on the Loch Ness monster which appeared to lift the mood.
Following research which suggested that the elusive creature is most likely a large eel, the Prime Minister was asked if he thought Nessie existed.
He said he did not believe that research from New Zealand on the topic was ‘conclusive’, adding: ‘There is a part of my soul that still yearns to believe in it.’
Mr Johnson also met around 200 Scottish Conservative members at a private event hosted by Tory MPs Andrew Bowie and Ross Thomson.
The Prime Minister stayed last night at the Queen’s Balmoral Estate, where he was joined by girlfriend Carrie Symonds.