Boris Johnson 'praised for leadership during Ukraine crisis' ahead of visit to Scotland

Boris Johnson has been praised for showing leadership during the Ukraine crisis ahead of his visit to Scotland.

The Prime Minister will be in attendance at the Scottish Conservative party conference in Aberdeen.

He will speak at the event, which begins on Friday, despite previously facing calls to resign.

Douglas Ross last week withdrew his letter to the Conservative 1922 Committee, having sought to trigger a leadership election.

The Scottish Conservative leader later defended his decision, insisting on the need to show a united stand against Russia.

Speaking ahead of the conference, Stephen Kerr, the party’s chief whip at Holyrood, suggested it would be “churlish” for people to disagree that Johnson had handled the situation in Ukraine well.

And he underlined Ross’ call for the Prime Minister to be given support during the crisis.

He told the PA news agency: “I think when we get to that point, we can address issues that are more domestic, more inward-looking.

“At the minute, I think we’ve got to be united, we’ve got to support the Prime Minister and the Government in what they’re doing.

“Only the most churlish people would disagree that the Prime Minister has responded well to this situation.

“He has shown leadership, not just in terms of the way that the country is united behind what the Government is doing, but also in very practical things that the Government has been doing.”

Kerr acknowledged the controversy over parties held at Downing Street during the pandemic, which sparked calls for Johnson to go.

But he reiterated the importance of backing the Government following the invasion by Russia.

He continued: “There are issues relating to that whole episode that are currently not concluded.

“But right now, the sole focus that we should have as a country – certainly we as Scottish Conservatives are very focused on – giving the Prime Minister the support he needs, and the Government the support that it needs in order to tackle this issue.”