IN the 10 years since the Scottish independence referendum, political events have made many people change their view on the country's future, including many well-known musicians and actors.
Here are a few celebrities who have gone from No to Yes, or something in between.
Sharleen Spiteri
Spirteri was a supporter of devolution and said at the time: “As far as I’m concerned, I’m British. And, yeah, I’m Scottish but I feel I’m part of the UK.
“I think it’s very important to have a Scottish government who make decisions for Scotland but I can’t understand how Scotland would survive independently.”
But in 2021, the band announced her allegiance had switched after the Brexit vote.
The Express newspaper wrote an article based on Spiteri's 2013 comment, linked to her promotion of the band's latest album Hi.
It was headlined: "Sharleen Spiteri: Independent Scotland 'can’t survive' as 'we don’t have the resources’.
In response, the band's official Twitter account issued a short post saying: "This is not true. After Brexit, Sharleen and the rest of the band now support Scottish Independence."
The comment triggered a massive response at the time, racking up more than 6000 likes and in excess of 150 comments.
Ewan McGregor
The Star Wars actor changed his mind on the constitutional question in 2020 when he said Scotland and England are “moving in different directions”.
McGregor had previously backed the Union but, similarly to Spiteri, said Brexit changed his mind.
"I was always for keeping the Union. I think it worked and then after the Brexit vote I've changed my tune about it," he told comedian and TV host Bill Maher.
“I just thought that’s it … I think probably it’s time," he added.
“Scotland has been voting for a government that they haven’t been given for years.
“We’re a very left-voting country we’ve been under a Conservative rule, all through my childhood and so I think probably, enough’s enough.”
He also claimed the tenure of Boris Johnson as prime minister probably swung some Scots towards independence.
“I think once Boris became prime minister, Scotland was like ‘that’s it, we’re f****** out of here’,” he said to laughter from the US audience.
From quiet to Yes
There are some celebrities who were never explicitly in favour of the Union, but have voiced their support for independence since the referendum.
David Tennant
Admittedly he’d been quiet on the issue in the past, but seven years ago he branded everything Brexit-related “depressing”, adding he was now “at the point “where I think if Scotland goes again for a referendum, they should go independent”.
Tennant, who was born in Bathgate in West Lothian, said: “Politically, I think we’re in for quite a dark time.”
Peter Capaldi
Despite being one of Scotland's most prominent stars he didn't include his name in The Guardian's list of more than 200 celebrities urging Scots to stay in the UK, but he had never voiced his support for independence until this point.
Speaking to The Telegraph ahead of the launch of his show The Devil's Hour, Capaldi said his faith in British politics had been eroded since the Conservative Party came into power.
He said that as a Glaswegian, he would now support independence.
“After the relentlessness of the past 12 years, everything we have been put through, it might just be time to go home and be a part of that,” he said.
Celebs who have softened
There are some famous faces who were behind Scotland staying in the UK but have since softened their stance on the matter.
Steve Coogan
The star behind Alan Patridge said in April 2022 he was rethinking his opposition to Scotland leaving the UK.
Steve Coogan was among 200 public figures to sign a letter on the eve of the 2014 referendum urging Scots to vote No.
But speaking to BBC Scotland, the actor said Brexit had forced him to reconsider his stance.
He told The Nine: “It’s funny because on the one hand I’m pro-European and, I mean, when Brexit happened I was thinking of moving to Scotland. That’s what I felt.”
Coogan added: “I can totally understand the desire for Scottish independence. In fact, I may have shifted my position. It’s like something I’m processing as a half-English, half-Irishman.
“A part of me feels like, you know, it would be a kick in the pants for those sort of small-minded little Englanders, to be honest.”
Billy Connolly
The Glaswegian comedian made no secret of his opposition to independence around the referendum but once again, Brexit has been the sticking point.
Billy Connolly has since been a lot more on the fence. In recent years he has said that Scotland is in “great shape” politically and is “beginning to stand alone”.
“They don’t want to settle for whoever England votes for,” he said.
On independence, he added: “If Scotland would like it, I would like it.”
He described the Brexit vote as a “disaster” adding: “Scots voted to stay in Europe, and if the only way for us to do that is to become independent from England, that may just be the way to go. And I never thought I would say that.”
