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Boris Johnson ‘will not holiday in Scotland again after nearly being swept out to sea’

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 06, 2021: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his fiancee Carrie Symonds walk to a polling station at Methodist Central Hall in London to cast their votes in the local elections, on 06 May, 2021 in London, England. Millions of voters across England head to the polls today to decide on thousands of council seats, choose 13 mayors, including London, with many of the elections postponed from last year due to 
the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo credit should read Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson got into difficulty while on holiday with his wife Carrie Symonds and son Wilfred. (Getty)

The Prime Minister does not intend to return to Scotland for a holiday anytime soon after being swept out to sea on his last break there, it has been claimed.

Boris Johnson got into difficulty while staying in Lonbain, Applecross, last August with his wife Carrie Symonds and son Wilfred, The Times reported.

The newspaper claimed the PM had been paddleboarding or canoeing when he was swept out and “protection officers had to swim out and drag him back to safety”.

The report added Johnson has since told friends he would return to Scotland for a holiday “over his dead body”.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures onboard the Esvagt Alba during a visit to the Moray Offshore Windfarm East, off the Aberdeenshire coast, on August 5, 2021, the second day of his two-day visit to Scotland. (Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson visited the Moray Offshore Windfarm East, off the Aberdeenshire coast, this week. (Getty)

The Times’s political editor Steven Swinford tweeted: “Boris Johnson nearly swept out during his last holiday in Scotland, The Times has been told.

“He went paddleboarding/canoeing and got into trouble.

“Protection officers had to swim out and drag him back to safety."

He added the PM did not intend to return north of the border this year for a holiday due to the previous “catastrophe” and was expected to have a staycation in the South West instead.

This is despite the PM telling the House of Commons Liaison Committee last month he intended to return to Scotland for a break and "wild horses won't keep me away”.

Downing Street declined to comment.

It comes after Johnson had an eventful time in Scotland this week when he visited a police college in Fife, Scotland, on Wednesday and a wind farm off Aberdeenshire on Thursday.

Johnson was slammed by first minister Nicola Sturgeon and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer when he said former PM Margaret Thatcher gave the UK a “big early start” in the fight against climate change when she closed coal mines across the UK.

Downing Street also announced he did not need to self isolate even though a member of his staff on the trip tested positive for COVID-19.

Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson gestures before boarding the vessel Alba at Fraserburgh Harbour, Aberdeenshire on August 5, 2021, on his way to the Moray Offshore Windfarm East on the second day of his two-day visit to Scotland. (Photo by Jane Barlow / POOL / AFP) (Photo by JANE BARLOW/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Boris Johnson reportedly said he would return for a holiday in Scotland “over his dead body”. (Getty)

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister regularly visits communities across the UK and all aspects of visits are carried out in line with COVID guidance.

“The Prime Minister has not come into close contact with anyone who has tested positive.”

Last month Johnson and finance minister Rishi Sunak both self-isolated in line with national guidance, abandoning heavily criticised plans to take part in a pilot scheme that would have allowed them to continue working.

Watch: PM not expecting to isolate after staff member tests positive for COVID