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Reading the Future of Scotland in the Stars Reading the Future of Scotland in the Stars
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LONDON — Sean Connery is in favor, J. K. Rowling is against. Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson don’t really want it, but Annie Lennox and the boss of British Airways sort of do. And everyone is dying to know: Where does Andy Murray stand? LONDON — Sean Connery is in favor, J. K. Rowling is against. Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson don’t really want it, but Annie Lennox and the boss of British Airways sort of do. And everyone is dying to know: Where does Andy Murray stand?
Eight weeks before a referendum on whether Scotland should break away from Britain and become an independent country, the yes and no camps have stepped up their campaigning — not just down at the grass roots, but among the stars.Eight weeks before a referendum on whether Scotland should break away from Britain and become an independent country, the yes and no camps have stepped up their campaigning — not just down at the grass roots, but among the stars.
In this age of celebrity culture and disdain for politicians, endorsements from film stars, pop stars, sports stars, any kind of stars really (including imagined ones like the hobbit Frodo Baggins, who, on the authority of The Edinburgh Evening News, backs Scottish independence) have been keenly courted on both sides — even if the pronouncements don’t always have the desired effect.In this age of celebrity culture and disdain for politicians, endorsements from film stars, pop stars, sports stars, any kind of stars really (including imagined ones like the hobbit Frodo Baggins, who, on the authority of The Edinburgh Evening News, backs Scottish independence) have been keenly courted on both sides — even if the pronouncements don’t always have the desired effect.
When David Bowie, who is English and lives in New York, asked the model Kate Moss to dress up in his old Ziggy Stardust outfit, collect a music award in London on his behalf and read out a statement with the plea “Scotland, stay with us,” he was told in the Scottish Twittersphere to go “back to Mars.”When David Bowie, who is English and lives in New York, asked the model Kate Moss to dress up in his old Ziggy Stardust outfit, collect a music award in London on his behalf and read out a statement with the plea “Scotland, stay with us,” he was told in the Scottish Twittersphere to go “back to Mars.”
As the Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle, an independence backer, put it: “I completely respect Bowie’s right to express views on independence, just as I’d respect Iggy Pop’s opinions on the CERN particle accelerator.”As the Scottish comedian Frankie Boyle, an independence backer, put it: “I completely respect Bowie’s right to express views on independence, just as I’d respect Iggy Pop’s opinions on the CERN particle accelerator.”
Scotland has been England’s junior partner in Britain since 1707. But three centuries is no time at all in the view of many Scots, who have demanded self-determination, on and off, ever since. That prospect is now nearer than ever with a vote on Sept. 18. So far, most polling has given the stay-united camp the advantage, though many of them show at least a fifth of voters have yet to make up their minds.Scotland has been England’s junior partner in Britain since 1707. But three centuries is no time at all in the view of many Scots, who have demanded self-determination, on and off, ever since. That prospect is now nearer than ever with a vote on Sept. 18. So far, most polling has given the stay-united camp the advantage, though many of them show at least a fifth of voters have yet to make up their minds.
It is unclear how much sway celebrities hold in a debate that wrestles with questions such as whether an independent Scotland could keep the queen and the British pound but get rid of nuclear submarines and austerity. Many of the international stars don’t even live in Scotland.It is unclear how much sway celebrities hold in a debate that wrestles with questions such as whether an independent Scotland could keep the queen and the British pound but get rid of nuclear submarines and austerity. Many of the international stars don’t even live in Scotland.
In fact, when the yes campaign first unveiled its list of Scottish A-list supporters, including Mr. Connery, Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, opponents quickly pointed out that as nonresidents none of them could actually vote; voters with a primary residence in Scotland get a say, Scot or non-Scot, but Scots outside of Scotland don’t.In fact, when the yes campaign first unveiled its list of Scottish A-list supporters, including Mr. Connery, Brian Cox and Alan Cumming, opponents quickly pointed out that as nonresidents none of them could actually vote; voters with a primary residence in Scotland get a say, Scot or non-Scot, but Scots outside of Scotland don’t.
“We all love to go to the cinema, but what authority does a Hollywood star have on these issues?” asked James Mitchell, a professor of public policy at the University of Edinburgh. “The Scottish electorate is smarter than that.”“We all love to go to the cinema, but what authority does a Hollywood star have on these issues?” asked James Mitchell, a professor of public policy at the University of Edinburgh. “The Scottish electorate is smarter than that.”
But Angus Robertson, campaign director for the referendum for the Scottish National Party, said that celebrity “ambassadors” do matter. “You can be snooty about film stars,” he said, “but they add color to the campaign, and that gets people engaged.”But Angus Robertson, campaign director for the referendum for the Scottish National Party, said that celebrity “ambassadors” do matter. “You can be snooty about film stars,” he said, “but they add color to the campaign, and that gets people engaged.”
From the philosophers Adam Smith and David Hume to the creators of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, Scotland features prominently in Britain’s intellectual and cultural heritage. And many members of the creative elite have lined up behind the yes camp’s promise of a fairer, greener, more Scandinavian Scotland.From the philosophers Adam Smith and David Hume to the creators of Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes, Scotland features prominently in Britain’s intellectual and cultural heritage. And many members of the creative elite have lined up behind the yes camp’s promise of a fairer, greener, more Scandinavian Scotland.
Mr. Connery, who reportedly has a “Scotland Forever” tattoo and says he might move back to Scotland if it secedes, wrote in New Statesman recently that “the opportunity of independence is too good to miss.” Ms. Lennox, the lead singer of the Eurythmics, whose song “Sweet Dreams” has been heard at pro-independence rallies, said if an independent Scotland were to “create a more egalitarian society” it would set “an amazing example.” But she called herself an agnostic as to whether this could actually be achieved.Mr. Connery, who reportedly has a “Scotland Forever” tattoo and says he might move back to Scotland if it secedes, wrote in New Statesman recently that “the opportunity of independence is too good to miss.” Ms. Lennox, the lead singer of the Eurythmics, whose song “Sweet Dreams” has been heard at pro-independence rallies, said if an independent Scotland were to “create a more egalitarian society” it would set “an amazing example.” But she called herself an agnostic as to whether this could actually be achieved.
“The world is waiting for us, and I know Scotland is ready,” said Mr. Cumming, the stage and film actor, at the start of the pro-independence campaign in 2012.“The world is waiting for us, and I know Scotland is ready,” said Mr. Cumming, the stage and film actor, at the start of the pro-independence campaign in 2012.
Mr. Cox, who played the devious C.I.A. officer in “The Bourne Supremacy,” has become the throaty voice of a cartoon Scottie dog called Duggy Dug who features in a series of pro-independence video clips. In one of the more surreal ones, Dug is having a nap on his tartan when he has a nightmare about what Scotland would look like after a no vote. “Welcome to permanent austerity,” a banner reads as Mr. Cox’s voice runs down a bleak list: health care privatized, older Scots deprived of free bus passes and Dug’s Spanish dog friend Pepe deported after Britain left the European Union.Mr. Cox, who played the devious C.I.A. officer in “The Bourne Supremacy,” has become the throaty voice of a cartoon Scottie dog called Duggy Dug who features in a series of pro-independence video clips. In one of the more surreal ones, Dug is having a nap on his tartan when he has a nightmare about what Scotland would look like after a no vote. “Welcome to permanent austerity,” a banner reads as Mr. Cox’s voice runs down a bleak list: health care privatized, older Scots deprived of free bus passes and Dug’s Spanish dog friend Pepe deported after Britain left the European Union.
On the other side, the antisecession movement has its own video, “Let’s Stay Together,” unveiled last week. It features the comedian Eddie Izzard and Ross Kemp, a soap-opera star and former husband of the newspaper editor Rebekah Brooks.On the other side, the antisecession movement has its own video, “Let’s Stay Together,” unveiled last week. It features the comedian Eddie Izzard and Ross Kemp, a soap-opera star and former husband of the newspaper editor Rebekah Brooks.
There have also been less predictable endorsements: After companies like Standard Life and Royal Bank of Scotland hinted that they might move jobs south of the border if Scotland secedes, Willie Walsh, the chief executive of International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, told the BBC that independence would be good for business: Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, has promised to scrap a tax on airline passengers. Mr. Walsh said, “So it’s probably going to be a positive development, if it does happen, for British Airways.”There have also been less predictable endorsements: After companies like Standard Life and Royal Bank of Scotland hinted that they might move jobs south of the border if Scotland secedes, Willie Walsh, the chief executive of International Airlines Group, which owns British Airways, told the BBC that independence would be good for business: Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond, has promised to scrap a tax on airline passengers. Mr. Walsh said, “So it’s probably going to be a positive development, if it does happen, for British Airways.”
In both camps, stars admit to struggling with their decision.In both camps, stars admit to struggling with their decision.
Mr. McGregor told The Daily Mail that he loves Scotland. “But I also like the idea of Great Britain, and I don’t know that it wouldn’t be a terrible shame to break it all up,” he said.Mr. McGregor told The Daily Mail that he loves Scotland. “But I also like the idea of Great Britain, and I don’t know that it wouldn’t be a terrible shame to break it all up,” he said.
Ms. Thompson, whose mother is Scottish, suggested that she understands the “romance” of independence. “England was so awful to Scotland,” she told Spanish television, but added that erecting new borders in a shrinking world was not the answer.Ms. Thompson, whose mother is Scottish, suggested that she understands the “romance” of independence. “England was so awful to Scotland,” she told Spanish television, but added that erecting new borders in a shrinking world was not the answer.
The most notable recruit for the anti-independence campaign has been Ms. Rowling, the popular author of the Harry Potter books, who donated one million pounds to the cause.The most notable recruit for the anti-independence campaign has been Ms. Rowling, the popular author of the Harry Potter books, who donated one million pounds to the cause.
“The more I listen to the yes campaign, the more I worry about its minimization and even denial of risks,” Ms. Rowling wrote on her website. She is English but as a longtime Edinburgh resident is eligible to vote.“The more I listen to the yes campaign, the more I worry about its minimization and even denial of risks,” Ms. Rowling wrote on her website. She is English but as a longtime Edinburgh resident is eligible to vote.
“Meanwhile, dramatically differing figures and predictions are being slapped in front of us by both campaigns, so that it becomes difficult to know what to believe,” she said, voicing a concern frequently heard on both sides. “If we leave, though, there will be no going back.”“Meanwhile, dramatically differing figures and predictions are being slapped in front of us by both campaigns, so that it becomes difficult to know what to believe,” she said, voicing a concern frequently heard on both sides. “If we leave, though, there will be no going back.”
Some stars have decided to remain on the fence — not least because taking a side tends to lead to the sort of attacks Mr. Bowie suffered, with potential effects on their ability to sell tickets and maintain sponsors.Some stars have decided to remain on the fence — not least because taking a side tends to lead to the sort of attacks Mr. Bowie suffered, with potential effects on their ability to sell tickets and maintain sponsors.
Billy Connolly, Scotland’s most famous comedian, once joked about the Scottish Parliament, calling it a “wee pretendy Parliament,” only to be inundated with vitriol. The same happened to Mr. Murray, Britain’s top-seeded tennis player, who when asked whom he would support in the soccer World Cup replied, “Anyone but the English.”Billy Connolly, Scotland’s most famous comedian, once joked about the Scottish Parliament, calling it a “wee pretendy Parliament,” only to be inundated with vitriol. The same happened to Mr. Murray, Britain’s top-seeded tennis player, who when asked whom he would support in the soccer World Cup replied, “Anyone but the English.”
Few doubt that Mr. Murray, tellingly described as a Briton when he wins and as a Scot when he loses, is fiercely Scottish. He once bared his teeth, flexed his biceps and whooped Braveheart-style on the tennis court. But when Mr. Salmond, who watched him win Wimbledon last year, celebrated by unfurling a Scottish flag for the cameras, Mr. Murray was not amused. “It’s very difficult to have an opinion these days, because half the people will agree with you and half the people will think you’re an absolute idiot,” Mr. Murray told The Daily Mail.Few doubt that Mr. Murray, tellingly described as a Briton when he wins and as a Scot when he loses, is fiercely Scottish. He once bared his teeth, flexed his biceps and whooped Braveheart-style on the tennis court. But when Mr. Salmond, who watched him win Wimbledon last year, celebrated by unfurling a Scottish flag for the cameras, Mr. Murray was not amused. “It’s very difficult to have an opinion these days, because half the people will agree with you and half the people will think you’re an absolute idiot,” Mr. Murray told The Daily Mail.
By contrast, world leaders from the Chinese prime minister to President Obama have happily joined the fray, with both calling for a “united” Britain. Even Pope Francis has questioned whether the case for secession was strong enough (“Pope Says Nope,” The Daily Mirror’s headline read the next day).By contrast, world leaders from the Chinese prime minister to President Obama have happily joined the fray, with both calling for a “united” Britain. Even Pope Francis has questioned whether the case for secession was strong enough (“Pope Says Nope,” The Daily Mirror’s headline read the next day).
Whatever camp they support, many Scots can’t help but relish all the attention they are getting. As the pro-independence dramatist David Greig put it after Mr. Bowie’s unionist plea: “The weird thing is, I’m feeling giddy that he noticed us,” Mr. Greig told The Guardian. “He noticed us. David Bowie mentioned Scotland! We exist! We’re real! He loves us! And we love him.”Whatever camp they support, many Scots can’t help but relish all the attention they are getting. As the pro-independence dramatist David Greig put it after Mr. Bowie’s unionist plea: “The weird thing is, I’m feeling giddy that he noticed us,” Mr. Greig told The Guardian. “He noticed us. David Bowie mentioned Scotland! We exist! We’re real! He loves us! And we love him.”