Boris Johnson refusing to comment yesterday on a row with his girlfriend that led to police being called

Boris Johnson could be the midwife of Scottish independence, according to an exclusive Sunday Times poll that suggests a majority of Scots would vote to leave the UK if he becomes prime minister.

The Panelbase survey of 1,024 voters, conducted last week, confirms the worst fears of close allies of Scots Tory leader Ruth Davidson — pointing to a six-point lead for the “yes” campaign if, as expected, the former London mayor succeeds Theresa May.

Today’s poll suggests that Johnson, with a personal approval rating in Scotland of minus 37, is even less popular north of the border than Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage, who shares an approval rating of minus 24 with Johnson’s leadership rival Jeremy Hunt.

The most popular Tory leadership candidate by