THE Scottish Tories have been accused of “hiding in their bunker” after Boris Johnson announced a plan to suspend parliament to stop MPs blocking a no-deal Brexit.

In Edinburgh, broadcasters played a farcical game of cat-and-mouse with the Scottish Secretary and his deputy after they cancelled a visit then holed up in a government building to avoid questions.

Ruth Davidson’s office also said she would not be doing interviews today.

In her most recent Sunday newspaper column, the Scottish Tory leader repeatedly accused Nicola Sturgeon of dodging questions over the state of Scotland’s finances.

Last month, she also said she would not hesitate to criticise Mr Johnson if she thought he deserved it, and said she was firmly opposed to a no-deal Brexit.

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack cancelled a TV interview and photocall at a new UK government hub close to Waverley station after Mr Johnson’s announcement.

He had been due to give an interview to STV news.

TV crews then went to the Scotland Office in Edinburgh’s West End to try to put questions to Mr Jack and Scottish minister Robin Walker.

They followed a government car into a back lane in case the pair tried to leave by a rear door.

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Mr Jack eventually gave an impromptu statement on the steps of the Scotland Office saying the prorogation of parliament was a normal procedure before a Queen’s speech.

However most recent prorogations have been a few days, not five weeks.

By suspending parliament for 23 days working days the PM would make it far harder for the opposition parties and Tory rebels to block no-deal with an emergency law.

The chances of Mr Johnson’s ever implementing a new legislative programme with a majority of one are also remote, adding to scepticism about his motives.

Asked if the timetable was “running roughshod over democracy”, Mr Jack said: “This is no different to what we’ve had, bar a few days, every year since Tony Blair’s premiership.”

When it was pointed out the country had “a no-deal Brexit staring us in the face”, the Dumfries and Galloway MP went on: “We had, we had, always have had, a conference recess. This is the conference recess with a few days added on. We don’t need to come back and prorogue parliament for the Queen’s speech, we’ll do it before we leave. We’ll come back, we’ll have the Queen’s speech and there’s ample time for debate”.

After being pressed for several hours to make a statement, the Scottish Conservatives finally issued comments from MSP Adam Tomkins, not Ms Davidson.

Mr Tomkins said: "Political opponents are being predictably hysterical about this move.

“And of course, Nicola Sturgeon wasted no time in using this as another way of agitating for independence.

“MPs within Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems need to remember they were presented with three opportunities to vote for a deal, and they spurned that opportunity each time.

“The aim is still to strike a deal with the EU and, if and when that happens, there will be plenty of time for MPs to either vote for that, or vote for a no-deal Brexit.”

SNP Depute Leader Keith Brown said: “On the day Boris Johnson has made clear he is willing to bypass and stifle democracy to force through an extreme no-deal Brexit, the Scottish Tory leader and her group of MPs have gone into hiding.

“If Ruth Davidson was at all serious about opposing a no deal Brexit she would be ordering her MPs to stand up to Boris Johnson. Her failure to do so makes her every bit as culpable for this sorry mess.

“The Scottish Tories are too scared to defend the shocking and unprecedented actions of their own government – choosing to hide in their bunker rather than answer to the public.

“For all her feigned protests, we know that Ruth Davidson is completely incapable of standing up to her boss Boris Johnson.

“But she cannot stay in hiding forever – sooner or later she is going to have to surface and start answering questions."

Mr Brown added: “The SNP will continue to work with opposition MPs to prevent this Prime Minister from forcing through a catastrophic no deal Brexit, and it is vital that MPs from all parties come together to prevent this undemocratic manoeuvre which would drag Scotland and the UK off the cliff-edge.”