A bridge or tunnel linking Scotland with Northern Ireland is one of the options being considered by a new UK Government transport review, it has been confirmed.
Boris Johnson announced today he wanted to see improved road and rail connections between all four home nations.
The Prime Minister said an independent review will look at how to boost transport infrastructure across Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England.
But the idea of building a fixed link between Portpatrick and Larne - previously dismissed as a "vanity project" - could cause a clash between Westminster and Holyrood.
Critics claim the cost of bridging the 20 mile-long North Channel - a busy shipping lane known for rough seas - would be astronomical.
The Record revealed last month that the Scottish Government has not undertaken any feasibility studies on creating a fixed link to Ulster and had no plans to do so.
But Johnson and his Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, remain enthusiastic backers of the grand plan.
The UK Government said its new review - chaired by Network Rail boss Sir Peter Hendy - would assess "the cost, practicality and demand for a new fixed link between Great Britain and Northern Ireland".
Announcing the review, the Prime Minister said: “The United Kingdom is the greatest political partnership the world has ever seen, and we need transport links between our nations that are as strong as our historic bonds.
“Quality transport links are the key to making sure everyone can access education, jobs and housing, helping businesses to grow and thrive and rebalancing opportunity fairly across our country.
“As we build back better from the pandemic, Sir Peter’s review will help make sure we have the right connections to support, sustain and strengthen our communities – to truly level up across the UK.”
He added the review would "work closely" with devolved governments and local authorities on possible transport upgrades.
But the idea of spending billions on a link to Ulster is unlikely to be welcomed by SNP ministers.
While Westminster would be able to push ahead with such a project without the support of Holyrood, the construction and maintenance of access roads to the Portpatrick side would fall under the remit of the Scottish Government.
A spokesman for Michael Matheson, the Scottish Government's transport secretary, told the Record last month: "We strongly believe that if £20 billion is available for investment in infrastructure in Scotland and Northern Ireland that rather than indulging with this vanity project, such funding should be made available to our respective governments so it could be better spent on meeting the priorities of the people we represent.
“The Scottish Government has not investigated or undertaken any feasibility for a fixed link between Scotland and Northern Ireland and has no current plans to do so."
