William McIvanney, one of Scotland’s most celebrated literary talents, and top English comedian Frank Skinner, have each voiced their support for a Yes vote in September’s independence referendum.
McIvanney, most famous for his novels Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch and Walking Wounded, says it’s time for Scotland “to come out of history’s deep-freeze and explore who we really are.”
The Kilmarnock-born novelist, writing in the Sunday Mail, warns against passing up the opportunity on offer on September 18.
He says: “A No vote will be a vote for political inertia, an abjuration of change. The old Scottish shibboleth ‘Better the de’il ye ken’ will leave the future handcuffed to the past, and the key not in our possession for the foreseeable future.”
McIlvanney adds: “It’s time to grow up and take full responsibility for ourselves. A Yes vote would do that.”
Frank Skinner, who is preparing for a three-and-a-half week show at the Edinburgh Fringe, told the Sunday Times that if he were Scottish he would vote Yes because “I like the idea of Scotland standing alone and being courageous…..”
Gail Lythgoe, a spokeswoman for Yes Scotland, said: “People support an independent Scotland for a variety of reasons and that diversity is one of the key strengths of the Yes movement. It is interesting and highly encouraging that huge numbers of people in arts and literature support a Yes vote because they know how much Scotland has to offer, both for the people who live and work here, but also to the wider world.”