Highlands and Islands MSP Donald Cameron has said that evidence of growing anti-English sentiment in Scotland is deeply worrying following the release of a poll showing that four in ten Scots do not want English tourists visiting Scotland without a period of isolation.

Mr Cameron said: “This poll underlines the importance of Scottish Government ministers choosing their words very carefully and being scrupulous about the facts.

“Nicola Sturgeon’s recent assertion that Covid infection rates were much higher in England was misleading, and led to her being rebuked by the head of the UK’s statistics agency.

“Unfortunately that did not prevent a storm of further offensive comments on social media, some of them racist, and xenophobic demonstrations taking place on the border.

“The Highlands and Islands has a proud tradition of tolerance, and providing a warm welcome to visitors from both near and far.

"Whilst no one wants to be overrun with visitors as we slowly emerge from the pandemic, we can't forget the regional economy is heavily dependent on tourism.

“Our country now needs to come together, rather than being driven apart.”