BORIS Johnson has claimed vaccination hubs and a major testing centre in Glasgow are "a massive benefit" to the whole of the United Kingdom. 

The Prime Minister said he believed they showed why talk of a second independence referendum should be put on hold, despite growing support for another poll to potentially break up the Union. 

Mr Johnson was in the city today to meet Lighthouse Laboratory experts at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and troops setting up a vaccine base in the Glasgow Club Castlemilk. 

READ MORE: Boris Johnson Glasgow visit: Prime Minister questions 'point' of hosting second Indy referendum

His controversial visit to Scotland to "show the strength" of the UK had been criticised by some, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon saying she didn't think it was "essential". 

Mr Johnson said: “Speaking as someone who believes passionately in Britain and our country, it’s wonderful to see how all of the country I represent is being helped by Scottish academics, postgraduate students, and scientists, doing testing in Glasgow which is a massive benefit to the whole country.

Glasgow Times:

“It’s wonderful to see how the Scottish regiment of the British army is helping to rollout vaccination centres.

“It’s great to see vaccines going into the arms of people here in Scotland that have been made as part of a great national effort as a result of investment by the UK Government." 

Mr Johnson – who during his briefing failed to name Castlemilk and referred to it only as a "Glasgow area" – questioned what the point would be in holding another vote on Scottish independence. 

Recent polls have shown projected increases in seats for the Scottish National Party in May’s Holyrood elections, which could trigger a future vote. 

Mr Johnson said: “People want to endlessly discuss independence and have a referendum again, even although we had one in 2014. 

“What is that intended to deliver? What happens to the pound? What happens to the army? What happens to the Queen? What happens to our security services? 

Glasgow Times:

“These are fundamental questions to statehood and they haven’t been asked or answered."

READ MORE: Boris Johnson visits Queen Elizabeth University Hospital to view Covid testing kits as part of Scotland visit

Mr Johnson was reluctant to take direct aim at the SNP but said: "It is a fact the SNP government has not been notably successful in delivering good results on education or on tackling drugs. It is a mark of their general diversionary tactics that they continue to talk about a referendum rather than domestic concerns." 

Anas Sarwar, Glasgow MSP and candidate to be leader of Scottish Labour, criticised both the First Minister and Prime Minister for the war of words over the trip.

He said: “This is yet another manufactured row between the SNP and the Tories at a time of national crisis.

“Both the Prime Minister and First Minister say they want to bring our country together, yet all they seem focused on is division. 

“They should both be entirely focused on defeating Covid. People expect their governments to work together in the national interest.”

Read more on Boris Johnson's trip to Glasgow here