Meanwhile, May continues to have a right hoot at the G20

“All the indications are that it is. But failing to cross the Border is not a good look for him especially given the highly publicised difficulties he has with the Scottish party and the public.”

Meanwhile, at the hustings in Carlisle, Johnson described the UK Parliament as an “England parliament”.

Asked about where there could be more English devolution for those who feel there is a “democratic deficit”, he said: Theresa May looked fed up as she shook hands with controversial Tu rk ish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, and Russian premier Vladimir Putin at the G20. US president Donald Trump, far right, was less troubled. “I’ve often thought about that and actually I do think there’s a case for devolution in England.

“There are things you can do. But I’m not convinced of the case for an Englandonly parliament. We have an England parliament, it’s in Westminster.

“You can look at inspiring more local initiative and more local control and as Conservatives we should be interested in this, I think, by more fiscal devolution where that is sensible and where the tax base supports it and where it can be made to work.”

Speaking about Scotland, he added: “Far from threatening the Union, Brexit, if we do it right, is going to cement and intensify our great Union, the awesome foursome. Do we really think that the SNP is going to have much of a song to sing once we have left the European Union and their proposal is Scotland, brave Scotland, should join the euro, join the Schengen group and submit to the entire panoply of EU rules?”

Johnson – who saw his support dip after police were called to his home by neighbours after a late night row with his partner – also defended his “chequered private life”.

When asked, “Can we trust you with the great lady Britannia?, Johnson replied,“Don’t look at what I say I do, look at what I do.”

He pointed towards having “over delivered” on his promises as mayor of London and the 2012 Olympics.