Scottish actor Alan Cumming hit the independence campaign trail yesterday and urged people to “please grab this wonderful opportunity with both hands”.
He joined Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow to claim that a Yes vote was the opportunity for Scotland to play a positive role on the world stage.
A crowd of more than 200 fans and volunteers gathered to greet the actor, who is originally from Aberfeldy in Perthshire, as he hit the streets of Finnieston.
Mr Cumming said: “The referendum campaign has been the most exciting thing to happen to Scotland in my lifetime.
“It has reinvigorated Scotland and its democracy, with people who wouldn’t normally get involved in politics rolling up their sleeves and having their say on how Scotland should be run.
“A Yes vote is the opportunity to build a fairer, more equal Scotland that is a force for good in the world.
“That’s why people from all political backgrounds and none are moving to Yes.”
Ms Sturgeon claimed support for independence was increasing because more and more people were “switching on” to the opportunities it provided.
“This growing support for Yes is testament to the extraordinary grassroots campaigning going on across the country – and to have had Alan joining the campaign today has been fantastic,” she added.
“Scotland is one of the wealthiest countries in the world – richer per head than France, Japan and the UK.
“A Yes vote is our one opportunity to take Scotland’s future into Scotland’s hands – using our vast wealth to invest in our public services, create jobs and protect our NHS.”
After campaigning in Finnieston, Mr Cumming dropped in to the newly-renamed Yesbar in Glasgow city centre where he met owners Jim and Suzanna McLaughlin.
The couple decided to rename the bar from Vespbar to Yesbar to show support for independence.
Leanne Wood, leader of the Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru, also joined Ms Sturgeon yesterday to claim a Yes vote would protect Scotland’s NHS from Westminster budget cuts.