AWARD-WINNING Scottish actor and film star Alan Cumming has announced his support for the Yes Challenge.
The Tony and Olivier award winner known for his roles in Cabaret, The Good Wife, and Spy Kids, took to Twitter to celebrate the “great idea” over the weekend.
Cumming, who was an outspoken support of independence during the 2014 referendum, retweeted a post from The National urging people to “join thousands of others out to open minds on independence at yeschallenge.scot”.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE YES CHALLENGE PLEDGE
Sharing that post to his almost 300,000 followers, Cumming added: “This is a great idea to help people who are thinking about supporting Scottish independence to become more confident in their decision.”
This is a great idea to help people who are thinking about supporting Scottish independence becoming more confident in their decision... https://t.co/oVdt9GZSxN
— Alan Cumming (@Alancumming) January 30, 2021
Speaking last summer on the subject of the rising tide of support for Yes, Cumming told the BBC: “I think if anything has changed since the last referendum in the political situation it would be to me, that it is more obvious now that Scotland can do better itself and that Westminster does not have Scotland’s interests at heart.
“You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to see that, and I think more and more people are realising that and feeling that in terms of the way they are being treated.”
On the subject of Brexit, Cumming previously said that it “will hopefully further and quicken Scottish independence, because that for me would be the only positive thing to come out of this debacle”.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE YES CHALLENGE PLEDGE
The actor is one of almost 4000 people to have put their names to the Yes pledge, including other notable names such as Eddi Reader and the SNP’s depute leader Keith Brown.
The pledge is based on the concept of “each one, teach one” and asks those who sign up to it to try to convince at least one undecided voter to commit to Yes in indyref2. To help convince them over to the indy camp, we’ll then give that person 12 free weeks of news from The National.
Brown praised the “exciting initiative”, adding: “We’ve all got undecided and ‘soft No’ friends and family –and many are on a journey – so this is a great chance for folks to take a fresh look at the positive case for becoming an independent country.”
The undecided voters will also be given a series of articles penned by Believe in Scotland, this paper’s partner in the Yes Challenge, and exclusive access to a series of webinars where they will be able to ask Yes-supporting experts questions around their fears and doubts about independence.
ADD YOUR NAME TO THE YES CHALLENGE PLEDGE
Over the course of our campaign, we’re aiming to have 5000 people sign the Yes Challenge pledge, and 2000 undecided voters participate in the Open Minds to Independence journey.
If we can convince just half of those to the Yes side, then the push will have been worth it. But we’re confident that we can smash that target, and win indyref2!
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Callum Baird, Editor of The National
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