Sean Connery dreams of an independent Scotland and said the opportunity to break the union with England is “too good to miss,” and now the star is getting some high-profile support in his bid.
The 83-year-old actor, who was born in Scotland but now lives in the Bahamas, has been a long-time supporter of separation from England. In a recent message, he said that making Scotland an independent country would boost artistic creation and even prompt him to move back to his native land.
“As a Scot and as someone with a lifelong love for both Scotland and the arts, I believe the opportunity of independence is too good to miss,” Sean Connery wrote in an article published on the New Statesman website on Tuesday.
“Simply put — there is no more creative an act than creating a new nation,” he wrote, adding, “More than anything else, culture defines a country. It provides international visibility and stimulates global interest more than a nation’s politics, business or economy ever can.
“So, with our colourful history, strong identity, deep rooted traditions, a commitment to artistic innovation and diverse and beautiful landscapes, Scotland is truly blessed.”
Residents in Scotland will vote in September on whether to end the 307-year union with England . Sean Connery is not the only one advocating for a split. Several politicians have voiced his support, and 100 different artists came together to advocate for a free and independent Scotland.
“I believe that independence can only add to our potential and to release a whole new wave of creativity, ambition, confidence and pride,” wrote actor Alan Cumming “The evidence is clear – in the past 15 years we have become stronger economically, socially, culturally and globally. The world is waiting for us and I know Scotland is ready.”
But not everyone is joining Sean Connery in advocating for an independent Scotland. Corporate heavyweights like the Edinburgh-based Standard Life and the Royal Bank of Scotland have voiced concerns about uncertainties over currency and taxes in an independent Scotland.
