Regional political journalists have forced a U-turn from Rishi Sunak after the Prime Minister tried to block some reporters from interviewing him.

Mr Sunak backed down after a row between Scottish Parliamentary journalists, both from the print and broadcast media, and Tory press officers this morning about who would be involved in a “media huddle” with the PM following a speech at the Scottish Conservatives conference.

According to The Scotsman’s deputy political editor Conor Matchett, just seven journalists from Daily Mail, The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express, Aberdeen Press & Journal and PA were initially “hand-selected” to speak to the PM.

However the huddle was then “gatecrashed” by journalists who had not been invited, forcing the U-turn.

Scotsman political editor Alistair Grant, pictured, branded the incident “utterly embarrassing behaviour from a Prime Minister” in a series of Twitter posts.

He wrote: “Rishi Sunak’s team tried to block several newspapers and broadcasters (including The Scotsman) from attending his post-speech media huddle at the Scottish Conservative conference.  U-turn only occurred when those journalists who were not invited gate-crashed it anyway.

“Scottish media refusing to do just one pooled broadcast clip with Rishi Sunak. His team have been told this is unacceptable.”

“Massive U-turn from Rishi Sunak’s team. He will now do the original press huddle as planned. However, this means only the six journalists who were originally invited to the huddle will be able to ask questions.”

In a statement, the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists Association said: “Journalists expect to be able to hold the Prime Minister to account when he is in Scotland as a vital part of the democratic process.

“Today’s actions to restrict access are unprecedented and undermine that important principle.”

Posting about the incident, Scotsman editor Neil McIntosh said: “Extraordinary. And not in a good way.”

In a statement, the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association said: “Journalists expect to be able to hold the prime minister to account when he is in Scotland as a vital part of the democratic process.

“Today’s actions to restrict access are unprecedented and undermine that important principle.”

HTFP has approached the Scottish Conservatives for a comment.