"Let voters decide"

Oscar-winning Scottish actor Sir Sean Connery has never kept his political stance regarding the independence of Scotland a secret.

“The opening day of Scottish Parliament on 1st of July 1999 was one of the proudest days of my life,” proclaimed the 79-year old, openly supporting the SNP’s aims of creating a liberated Scotland whilst gaining deeper involvement in European politics.

Last week, however, the actor made his views clearer, calling for a referendum on the issue as soon as possible.

Speaking on the opening of the Homecoming 2009 celebrations - marking the 250th anniversary of Robert Burn’s birthday celebrated around Scotland last Sunday - Connery urged unionists not to block the government’s plans for a referendum.

He stated that letting the people decide the country’s constitutional future was both the “democratic way” and the “Scottish way,” continuing: "I hope MSPs in every party will vote for it, regardless of their views.

"Whether they are for or against independence, all MSPs should agree the decision is for the people."

Sir Connery concluded by mentioning the effects of the financial struggles should bring people together in the community, not isolate Scotland further from the UK.

Born into a working-class family in the Fountainbridge area of Edinburgh, Connery left Scotland at the age of 16 to enlist with the Royal Navy.

It was here that the patriotic youth opted for a tattoo reading 'Scotland Forever'.

The James Bond star is reported to have pledged over £100,000 pounds of his own money toward funding the Scottish Nationalist Party, as well as devoting much of his own time to the cause.

He has proved a huge marketing success for the SNP in the media, writing in support of the party in newspapers such as The Times.

The Scottish Nationalist Party came to power in 2007, becoming the largest party in Scottish Parliament with 47 seats to Labour Party’s 46. The victory marked the first time SNP had been elected to govern.

The SNP administration has since forwarded proposals for a referendum on independence in 2010. The nationalists plan for the bill to be introduced in January of that year, expecting the vote to take place in the autumn of 2010.