SCOTS STARS & POLITICIANS CALL FOR INDEPENDENCE AS CONVENTION LAUNCHES

Independence Convention Launches St Andrews Day 7pm Dynamic Earth Edinburgh.

Here's what some leading Scots have said about Scottish Independence:

Elaine C Smith, Actress: "I believe the time is right for Scotland to be free to discuss its future, including independence".

John McAllion, the former Labour MSP and MP for Dundee East: "Unfortunately, I am unable to be physically present at this launch of Scottish Independence Convention. But I offer my full support to this project which aims to draw together political parties and representatives of the wider Scottish public to challenge the legitimacy of the union. Support for Scottish independence is alive and well and remains a continuing threat to the survival of the antiquated British state."

John Byrne, writer and artist: “I agree that we should have tax breaks for artists in Scotland. They have been a huge success in Ireland. That was the start of it all. It seemed to signal a different mindset within the Irish government. I believe Scotland should be autonomous. It should be a separate nation.”

Sean Connery: “The opening day of the Scottish Parliament on 1st July 1999 was one of the proudest days of my life. However, nearly seven years on, it is obvious that the powers are inadequate to do a real job for Scotland."

“My most pressing concern is that the dead hand of Westminster still weighs too heavily on many areas of Scottish life. I also believe that Scottish commentators should give a fair wind to the proposals coming from our Parliament to improve the life of Scots."

“I believe in Independence because it means equality for Scotland and that is the high ground in the coming debate - a debate which I welcome.”

Tommy Sheridan MSP: "I’m very enthusiastic about the prospect of a wide-ranging campaign, united to promote the principle of independence that cuts across party lines. I think there is close to, if not already, a majority of Scots who would support independence. Among some sections, particularly the young, it is an overwhelming majority."

Brian Nugent, spokesperson for the Free Scotland Party: “Free Scotland is delighted that the Independence Convention will be going public after a lot of hard work in the background by representatives of political parties, including Free Scotland, and others.”

“St Andrews Day is the perfect day for the launch of the Independence Convention which we can all hope will rival the success of the Scottish Constitutional Convention in achieving it aim.”

“The major fault with the Scottish Constitutional Convention was that it set limits on the ambitions on voters in Scotland. Why stop at devolution? The aim of the Independence Convention is to give voters the opportunity to answer the question about Independence that should have been asked along with the others in the devolution referendum.”

Alan McGee, founder of Creation Records: “Scotland should have more powers. It should be much more like Ireland and a Celtic haven for artists. We should be making it easier for people to exist, with tax breaks not just for musicians to live in their home country but artists like Jim Lambie who shouldn’t have to live in New York.”

David Ross, Historian: "Scotland is a nation state. We owe it to all the generations of Scots yet unborn to deliver a heritage of freedom, of pride, of self determination. For many generations Scots have strived to create the independence that our nation rightly deserves. Let us be the generation to deliver that freedom -and those Scots to come can grow without the burden that weighs so heavily on our shoulders and stops us taking our rightful place, with our flag flying as an equal amongst the other nations of this planet.

Alex Salmond MSP (Leader of the Scottish National Party) : "I have campaigned long and hard for a Scottish parliament, but I believe that only a real Scottish parliament can make a real difference. It is time Scotland took full responsibility for our nation. It is time for independence."

Shiona Baird, Co-Leader, Scottish Green Party: "Our vision is for independence for Scotland, when the people of Scotland choose it, as a part of a process of decentralisation and democratisation."

"We view independence as part of a process, not as an event or even as an end in itself. It is a process that will transfer power away from the remote and over-centralised state we live in at the moment into the hands of people and communities that are actually affected by the decisions. "

(Note: The above comments are from various sources including the Evening News, Sunday Times, Independence First and the Scottish Independence Convention www.independenceconvention.org)

The first public meeting leading to the establishment of the Independence Convention will take place at 7.00pm on St. Andrews Day, November 30th, 2005 at the Dynamic Earth Conference Centre, Holyrood Road, Edinburgh at 7pm.