THE Evening Times has invited Boris Johnson to visit Glasgow and meet real people affected by government decisions he can take as Prime Minister.

The new Prime Minister was in Scotland last week, visiting Faslane Naval Base, near Helensburgh and meeting First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, in Bute House in Edinburgh.

Shortly before becoming Prime Minister he made a very closed visit to BAE shipyard at Govan but nothing in the wider city outside the yard.

During that visit the Evening Times challenged him on poverty rates across the city and he claimed as London Mayor he had a record of improving live for those on the lowest incomes.

We want Boris Johnson to come and meet families affected by welfare reforms instigated by one of his supporters, Iain Duncan Smith, following a visit to Easterhouse in Glasgow in 2002 which he said .

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He was also asked about drug problem in Glasgow where he said he supported a law and order approach focusing on tackling dealers.

We have written to Mr Johnson at 10 Downing Street to highlight some pressing issues in the city and to invite him to come and meet people in Glasgow struggling to cope with matters reserved to Westminster.

We have highlighted the ongoing crisis as a result of Universal Credit which was rolled out in Glasgow last year.

Since the roll out, which started last October, the Evening Times has covered Universal Credit stories and highlighted many people who have experienced problems with payments and difficulties in applying as well as highlighting agencies trying to help.

Two weeks ago we wrote to Mr Johnson, as a then contender to be Prime Minister, asking if he would commit to attending a summit on the record number of drug deaths in Glasgow and Scotland.

We have re-issued the call and have asked him to come and meet those who are living with a drug addiction, support services and families affected by drug related deaths.

When the drug death figures were released we called for an Emergency Drug Death Summit in Glasgow with the UK an Scottish Governments and local authorities.

The Scottish Government responded with Public Health Minister Joe Fitzpatrick stating he would seek to host a summit in the city.

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Despite contacting Sajid Javid, the then Home Secretary and Victoria Atkins , drugs minister, we are still waiting for a response.

We have also asked he consider intervening in the Serco asylum seeker lock change and ensure nobody is made homeless.

During his visit this week there were shouts of protest outside Bute House and a protest held in Buchanan Street, even though he wasn’t in Glasgow.

Mr Johnson would doubtless be met with more protests should he visit the city to meet real people.

However, as Prime Minister he leads a government that has the potential to revisit decisions of his predecessors and put right some wrongs.

He also has the capacity to make future decisions and could also make matters even worse and we think he would benefit if he was to hear from people who would be directly affected who could inform his thinking decision making.

The leader of Glasgow City Council, Susan Aitken, has also written to Mr Johnson asking him to engage with the council on similar issues and has encouraged him to respond to our letter.

She said: “The policies of the UK Government continue to have a hugely damaging impact on the lives of the people of Glasgow. A change of Prime Minister provides an opportunity for a change in approach.

“I have already written to Boris Johnson to ask that he and his relevant ministers, as a matter of urgency, commence discussions with the Glasgow City Government on these key issues.

“UK drugs legislation prevents us from addressing addiction and the impact on individuals and communities in a way we know can deliver positive change, Home Office policy is forcing asylum seekers into homelessness and destitution, welfare reform is ripping the heart out of families and neighbourhoods and Brexit of whatever form will hurt Glasgow’s economy and general well-being.

“The City Government, the Evening Times and, most importantly, the people of Glasgow know how pressing these matters are. It’s now up to Boris Johnson’s Government to respond positively to our requests and engage with Glasgow for the wellbeing of this city.”