A Twitter row has broken out between JK Rowling and columnist Iain Macwhirter.

In a column in today's Herald about the dangers of far-right patriotism, Macwhirter said the SNP had expunged “any trace of ethnic nationalism, and anti-English sentiment”.

“Nicola Sturgeon” Macwhirter writes, “was the only party leader in Britain who, during the General Election debates, consistently and energetically argued that immigrants benefit society."

In a tweet, Rowling contested Macwhirter: "@iainmacwhirter quite a claim. How many English incomers were polled before the making of that confident assertion?"

.@iainmacwhirter Quite a claim. How many English incomers were polled before the making of that confident assertion? pic.twitter.com/Pfp6vy3IGe — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 18, 2015

Macwhirter tweeted back “.@jk_rowling There was a movement called Seed of the Gael which was expelled from SNP in 70s. Zero tolerance of anti English racism in SNP”

Rowling responded “@iainmacwhirter And on that you base your claim that there is not a trace of anti-English prejudice in the SNP?”

.@iainmacwhirter And on that you base your claim that there is not a trace of anti-English prejudice in the SNP? — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 18, 2015

The Harry Potter writer was a keen supporter of Better Together during the referendum and donated £1million to campaign’s war chest.

Later, to another user Macwhirter said that if Rowling “has any doubts about the SNP's rejection of racial or ethnic nationalism she should contact @NicolaSturgeon”.