THE Prime Minister again rejected calls for a second vote on Scottish independence as he claimed Covid-19 has shown the UK as a "fantastically strong institution".

On a visit to Orkney, Boris Johnson insisted the strength of the UK has been critical in the response to coronavirus.

He also spoke of his desire to "build back better" after the pandemic.

The Tory leader's visit comes after support for Scottish independence reached 54% in two opinion polls recently, while it looks like Holyrood is set for a big pro-indy majority at next year's election.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon's approval ratings are also 99% ahead of Johnson's in Scotland.

READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon welcomes Johnson to Scotland with perfect tweets

Keith Brown, the SNP depute leader, said last night: “The only reason Boris Johnson is coming here is because he is in full-blown panic mode amid rising support for independence.”

The Prime Minister was greeted in Orkney by Yes groups out in force to protest his visit.

With very little notice, Yes Orkney arranged a series of demonstrations along the PM's route on the island, from Kirkwall to Stromness.

Around 200 independence supporters, young and old, braved the conditions to send a message to Johnson.

He said during his visit: "The Union is a fantastically strong institution, it's helped our country through thick and thin, it's very, very valuable in terms of the support we've been able to give to everybody throughout all corners of the UK."

READ MORE: Yes groups out in force for Boris Johnson's visit to Orkney

Sturgeon argued his trip - the day before Johnson marks one year in charge at Downing Street - highlights a key argument for independence.

She tweeted earlier: "I welcome the PM to Scotland today. One of the key arguments for independence is the ability of Scotland to take our own decisions, rather than having our future decided by politicians we didn't vote for, taking us down a path we haven't chosen. His presence highlights that."

While she welcomed financial support from Westminster, she said it is "not some kind of favour" to Scots.

"Let's be clear, this is borrowed money and the reason it is coming to the Scottish Government from the UK Government is the UK Government holds the borrowing powers that Scotland doesn't hold," she said.

"Scottish taxpayers will pay the cost of that borrowing in the same way as taxpayers across the UK will so it is not some kind of favour that is being done for Scotland.

"And if the Scottish Government held the borrowing powers we would be able to provide that support directly, and perhaps we would be able to have greater flexibility in how we design these schemes."

She spoke out after the Prime Minister argued there should not be another independence referendum - even if the SNP win a majority of seats at next May's Holyrood elections, as polls indicate they could do.

Johnson said: "We had a referendum on breaking up the Union a few years ago, I think only six years ago, that is not a generation by any computation and I think what people really want to do is see our whole country coming back strongly together and that's what we're going to do.

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"What we've seen throughout this crisis is the importance of the strength of the Union in dealing with certain crucial, crucial things - supporting people through the furlough scheme, the work of the Army and armed services in testing and moving people around.

"Now, through Barnett consequences, we've put another £250 million into the NHS in Scotland to make sure that we're ready for the winter because we've got to be clear that this thing has not gone away."

He added: "Throughout the UK we've done very well in getting coronavirus under control but it is not the end of the story and we've got to be very, very vigilant as we go forward into the colder months and that's why we're supporting the NHS with extra cash.

"I think that the merits of the Union are very, very strong - they've been proved throughout this crisis."

The visit comes as the UK and Scottish Governments announced they will both contribute £50 million to a £100 million growth deal for the Northern and Western Isles.