Paul McCartney

Stay or Leave? Celebrities Have Their Say on Scottish Independence Vote

Celebrities are having their say in an attempt to sway Scottish voters who go to the polls Thursday to decide whether Scotland will continue its 307-year-old union with the United Kingdom or become an independent country.

Paul McCartney, Patrick Stewart, Judi Dench, Sting and David Beckham are in favor of Scotland remaining within the union, which also includes England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Former 007 Sean Connery, Gerard Butler, members of the band Franz Ferdinand and "Trainspotting" author Irvine Welsh are among those who believe Scotland should chart its own course as an independent nation.

Scottish tennis star Andy Murray made a late show of support for independence.

In a show of bold-faced names in the lead-up to Thursday's historic vote, more than 200 celebrities (the majority of English nationality) signed a letter titled "Dear Voters of Scotland" in which they state how much they value their bonds of citizenship with the Scottish people, and to express hope that those bonds will be renewed. The letter forms part of the "Letโ€™s Stay Together Campaign," a U.K.-wide drive to give "a voice to everyone who doesn't have a vote in the decision to break up Britain."

Other entertainment and sporting luminaries joining McCartney, Dench, Sting, Beckham and Stewart on the list supporting "Stay Together" include Helena Bonham Carter, Tom Daley, Simon Cowell, Mick Jagger, Michael Douglas and Bobby Charlton.

As early as February, David Bowie weighed in on the debate when he was awarded Best British Male at the Brit music awards. In his absence at the ceremony in London, Bowie had Kate Moss read a statement saying, "Scotland, stay with us."

"Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling, who was born in England and has a Scottish husband, has been especially active on Twitter and her website.

Pope Francis and President Obama are also in favor of continuing unity.

In the opposing corner are actor Butler, author Welsh and Connery. The latter, long a vocal Scottish nationalist, wrote: "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." Connery, 84, now resides in the Bahamas and is ineligible to vote in the referendum.

Actor and comedian Russell Brand took to Twitter to show his support for Scotland independence:

Veteran British fashion designer Vivienne Westwood expressed her solidarity with the Scots during her Red Label fashion show at London Fashion week on Sunday and said she is โ€œvery unpatriotic about England because it is completely ruined.โ€ The designer added a "Yes" button of support to all the ensembles she sent down the catwalk.

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