The SNP Government has imposed new restrictions, citing the spread of the Omicron variant, preventing Scots from enjoying Hogmanay as usual. John Swinney, Deputy First Minister, has added that it would be the “wrong course of action” for Scots to travel to England, where no new restrictions have been introduced since Christmas, to bypass closures.

       He told the BBC on Wednesday: “People are free to take those decisions, but I would discourage them from doing so.”

       But many are ignoring this advice and are “flooding” to England, according to Darren Grimes.

       The GB News and Reasoned UK commentator said this is illustrative of how businesses would move from the north side of the border to the south were Scotland to leave the UK.

       He wrote on Twitter: “The Scots are flooding to free England in a similar fashion to how people and businesses would flock to a free England under an ‘independent’ Scotland.”

       Commentators have highlighted on countless occasions that an ‘independent’ Scotland would, in fact, likely become tied to the European Union.

       England is the only UK country not to have introduced new Covid restrictions over New Year’s celebrations.

       The Prime Minister decided to hold off on imposing stricter measures following a meeting with top Government advisers who are likely to have discussed the latest information on the Omicron Covid variant.

       Scientists continue to work on discovering the characteristics of the variant.

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       So far, it is understood that Omicron spreads more quickly but is less severe than previous strains.

       Despite this, table service has been introduced at a pub in Scotland, along with ‘bubbles’.

       Nightclubs have also been forcibly closed and crowd sizes at outdoor events have been limited to just 500.

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       The measures will stay in place for at least three weeks.

       SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has faced criticism from various sectors for the damaging measures and has been barred from one pub chain “for life”.

       Alongside issuing different Covid rules to Mr Johnson, Ms Sturgeon continues to push for a second referendum on Scotland’s position in the UK.

       But in November, the Prime Minister insisted the 2014 vote was a “once-in-a-generation event”.

       He told Sky News: “I don't think people in this country think referendums are very wonderful for harmony.

       "We had one in 2014, the British people, the people of Scotland, were told in 2014 that that was a once-in-a-generation event.”