The Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross asked to be given a BBC slot this evening to respond to Nicola Sturgeon's address to the nation last night.

The party put in the request after it emerged that Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer will give a televised speech at 8pm today.

But the broadcaster rejected the party's demand, to the Tories' fury.

Scottish Conservative culture spokesperson Maurice Golden said: “Across the UK, the opposition have been provided a platform on the BBC to respond with a statement to the Prime Minister’s message last night. 

"The Scottish Conservatives requested the same platform for the opposition in Scotland to respond to the First Minister’s message last night. Unfortunately, that request was refused.”

Earlier today it emerged that Starmer will get a “right of reply” to Boris Johnson's statement on Tuesday night after he announced new restrictions for England to contain the virus and prevent a second wave in the winter.

His speech will be aired on BBC One in the same primetime slot of 8pm given to Johnson a day earlier, the broadcaster said.

A Labour source said: “He will support what the Government’s announced but also state that another national lockdown isn’t inevitable and what we need to do is follow the rule of law and fix issues such as testing.”