Support for Scottish independence is at its lowest in two years, representing a big blow to SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon's ambition of taking Scotland out of the Union. The Panelbase survey for the Sunday Times found 48 percent support for separation and 52 percent backing for the Union when undecided voters were excluded. Prof Sir John Curtice, a well renowned polling expert, said the results indicated "a cooling of the independence ardour" since the Holyrood elections last month.

       The poll also found only 19 percent of Scots think there should be another referendum within the next year, down three points on the last survey, while 35 percent said it should be staged within the next two to five years.

       The independence debate has led to division between Scotland and England, as highlighted by an SNP official's provocative remarks last month.

       Rhiannon Spear, a Glasgow councillor and the SNP’s national women’s convener, tweeted that Scotland “hates the United Kingdom too” after Britain’s entry flopped at Eurovision.

       She wrote: "It's OK Europe we hate the United Kingdom too. Love, Scotland."

       Her comments came after some speculated that the UK's poor performance in Eurovision may have come as a result of Brexit.

       Ms Spear's tweet was condemned, but she initially told those offended to “have a word with yourself".

       She added that "the UK has a billionaire Chancellor who won't give NHS staff a fair pay rise during a global pandemic" and claimed Prime Minister Boris Johnson is "more interested in lining the pockets of his Tory donors than feeding hungry children".

       Ms Spear later issued an apology though.

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       She said: "I have now deleted this tweet about the UK's results in the Eurovision Song Contest, and apologise for any offence caused."

       Stephen Kerr, Scottish Conservative chief whip, condemned the SNP official for the comments.

       He said: “The mask has again slipped from the SNP and this is another example of their toxic obsession with division.

       “This is abhorrent language from one of the SNP’s most prominent campaigners and a 2021 election candidate, not to mention chair of Glasgow City Council’s education committee.

       “We should be teaching tolerance and inclusion, not hate and division.”

       The relationship between England and Scotland was dealt another blow last week as Mayor of Manchester Andy Burnham clashed with Scottish First Minister Sturgeon.

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       The SNP has set out a travel ban between areas such as Manchester and Scotland, leading to a tense row during a meeting the two politicians.

       After the talks broke up a source close to the Scottish First Minister accused Mr Burnham of making an “incoherent and absurd” contribution to the meeting.

       A spokesman for the mayor also accused Ms Sturgeon of misunderstanding the situation, claiming she had dismissed out of hand the plight of ordinary people who had lost money as a result of her policy.

       A source close to Ms Sturgeon said: “The First Minister pointed out the stark contradiction between what Andy Burnham has been saying in recent days and his own authority’s clear advice to minimise travel.

       “Burnham had no proper answer to that. His attempted explanation was incoherent and absurd.”

       However, Mr Burnham is said to have argued that the advice reflects the UK Government’s position, rather than his own, and that it is not backed up by law as is the case with Ms Sturgeon’s rules.