SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford delivered the extraordinary tirade at PMQs, hammering Mr Johnson for describing muslim women in veils as 'letterboxes'.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon delivered a withering assessment of the would-be PM, saying he would 'damage the UK's reputation'.

MPs insisted Boris Johnson and rival Jeremy Hunt must 'prove' their commitment to the union during the campaign.

On his first visit to Scotland, Mr Johnson told the SNP leader the UK would leave the EU on Halloween. He was booed by protesters in Edinburgh.

Sir Malcolm Rifkind delivered the stark message after allies of the PM made clear he will try to cling on if he is defeated on a confidence motion by rebel Tories determined to head off No Deal Brexit.

John McDonnell has been accused of treating Jeremy Corbyn 'like a puppet' amid claims he failed to warn the Labour leader the party would not block a second Scottish independence referendum.

RICHARD LITTLEJOHN: Just imagine the reaction if a bunch of pro-Brexit English MPs had got onto their hind legs in the Commons and started singing Land Of Hope And Glory.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said today that any vote of no confidence would have to come after a crunch EU summit in three weeks time otherwise ex-Tory Remainer rebels would not back it.

The State Opening of Parliament saw Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn engage in one of the newer political traditions today - the awkward silent walk to the Lords.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson could get a Christmas general election. MPs from across the UK are set to vote on Mr Johnson's call for election.

Boris Johnson said the 2014 ballot - when Scots voted to stay in the union - was a 'once in a generation' decision.

Mr Johnson has poured cold water on the idea of sharing a stage with Ms Sturgeon, because he is only prepared 'to contest the debates with whoever theoretically could be Prime Minister.'

Boris Johnson today claimed Jeremy Corbyn is not 'tough enough' to stand up to Nicola Sturgeon and reject her demands for a second Scottish independence referendum.

The PM even suggested that his Labour rival may throw his weight behind the separatist campaign, and questioned the left-winger's commitment to keeping the United Kingdom glued together.

STEPHEN DAISLEY: Nicola Sturgeon's party went from 35 seats to 48, halving the Scottish Tory MP group and taking Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson's seat of East Dunbartonshire.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon teed up a pitch battle for the future of the UK claiming Boris Johnson will be 'subverting democracy' by refusing a ballot.

The SNP won 35 seats in 2017 but managed to secure 12 more at the general election last week - a surge which has bolstered Ms Sturgeon's calls for a second breakaway ballot.

The First Minister said that the Prime Minister's decision to block a new vote was 'a sign of weakness' as she continued to build her case the break up the UK.

The singer, 34, looked sensational in a plunging black velvet dress which flaunted her incredible toned figure as she joined John Legend at the event.

Louisa Johnson took to Instagram on New Year's Day to share not one, but three images, prancing around in a bikini, despite claiming she felt 'bloated'.

The X Factor singer, 22, looked blissfully happy as she showcased her figure in a plunging swimsuit during a weekend at the Glass House Retreat in Upminster, East London on Friday.

Marnie Simpson looked smitten with beau Casey Johnson as she joined reality co-stars Holly Hagan and Sophie Kasaei at the Geordie OGs press day in London on Wednesday.

She kicked off 2020 with a holiday to remember in Jamaica. And Louisa Johnson was reminiscing about her trip amid the UK lockdown as she shared a sizzling throwback snap on Monday.

The destroyer USS John S. McCain is having its first sea trials after undergoing repairs, lasting two years, following a collision with the Liberian-flagged Alnic MC oil tanker off the coast of Singapore.

Johnny Sexton believes Ireland are the right team to spoil Wales' Guinness Six Nations Grand Slam party. Sexton cited Ireland's previous form for ending opponents' record winning runs.

The outgoing Wales coach was named head coach for the 2021 tour of South Africa on Friday, having already led the Lions to victory in Australia and a drawn series in New Zealand last time out.

Johnny Sexton has missed out on Ireland's World Cup warm-up clash with England at Twickenham on Saturday. The fly-half sat out of training at the start of the week in Portugal.

RORY KEANE IN SHIZUOKA: Johnny Sexton has challenged Ireland to channel the hurt of the loss to Japan into their final pool games with Russia and Samoa. 

Sexton captained Ireland for the first time on Thursday, but he was replaced by Jack Carty for the second-half of his side's five-try win over the Bears.

Johnny Sexton has questioned the 'strange' negativity around Ireland's World Cup campaign, insisting Joe Schmidt's men are ready to peak for the All Blacks.

WORLD CUP DIARY: Johnny Sexton was as combative off the field as he is on it on Monday, questioning the media coverage of Ireland's World Cup.

Johnny Sexton has predicted that New Zealand will be cleaner in their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland following a bruising encounter in Dublin three years ago.

RORY KEANE IN TOKYO: Ireland have a shot at history here on Saturday, with the All Blacks standing in the way of a place in the World Cup semi-finals.

RORY KEANE AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: Johnny Sexton says Ireland are trying to draw a line under the hellish events of last year and Saturday was a good start as Andy Farrell's side won.

MIKE BROWN: You always know when it's an Ireland Test week because the coaches put a life-sized cardboard cut-out of Johnny Sexton in the team dining room.

England dominated from start to finish as they took a 24-12 victory over Ireland. Influential fly-half Johnny Sexton struggled to get into the game as England's defence barely gave him room to breathe.

Former deputy Prime Minister Lord Prescott has been admitted to hospital after suffering a stroke, his family has said in a statement.

The Tory frontrunner, who will become the UK's new Prime Minister next week if he defeats Jeremy Hunt in the leadership race, is said to have told aides to prepare for an election as early as next summer.

Philip Hammond is believed to be the first Chancellor to have ignored a three-line whip and not being sacked or forced to resign by the incumbent prime minister.

HENRY DEEDES: Almost as likely as Boris Johnson being announced as our new Prime Minister this morning will be the subsequent phoney display of unity between him and Jeremy Hunt.

Barry Gardiner said that the opposition had been discussing the 'nuclear option'  of supporting a no confidence vote in Mr Johnson's Brexiteer administration.

Boris Johnson goaded the Labour leader that he had abandoned his long-standing Euroscepticism as he claimed that the Tories were now the only ones 'on the side of the people'.

Jeremy Corbyn has refused to launch a vote of no confidence against Boris Johnson after Jo Swinson urged the Labour leader to join forces with her to bring down the government.

Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said today that the Government should be working on getting ready for an election but he does not expect one before October 31.

John McDonnell has refused to back down despite facing a wave of anger over the huge concession, seemingly designed to pave the way for a deal with Nicola Sturgeon.

The Shadow Chancellor said he would be 'sending Jeremy Corbyn in a cab to Buckingham Palace', at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

The Shadow Chancellor told an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event he would be 'sending Jeremy Corbyn in a cab to Buckingham Palace' if Mr Johnson did not vacate No 10 after losing a vote.

Boris Johnson met Jeremy Corbyn for crisis talks this morning in an effort to agree a timetable for passing the deal.

Labour's John McDonnell has accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of 'running scared' after he refused to take part in a one-on-one interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil.

John Caudwell said 'nearly every wealthy person I know is thinking of leaving the UK including me if Labour get in' as he challenged John McDonnell during a face-to-face meeting.