More than 200 British celebrities, including Mick Jagger, Stephen Hawking and Judi Dench, have signed a letter urging Scotland to stick with the United Kingdom in next month's independence referendum.
The open letter, presented Thursday in London, was signed by Oscar, Grammy and Nobel Prize winners, Olympic gold medallists, lords, knights of the realm, professors and novelists, representing "the best of British talent and intellect", according to the organisers.
Only people who live in Scotland get to vote in the September 18 referendum on whether to end the 307-year-old political union with England.
The famous signatories calling for a "No" vote -- Scots included -- do not have a vote but are hoping those who do keep the union together.
"The decision on whether to leave our shared country is, of course, absolutely yours alone," the letter says.
"Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom.
"We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them.
"What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let's stay together."
Hollywood stars included Dench, Patrick Stewart, Helena Bonham-Carter and Michael Douglas were on the list.
Besides Jagger, singing signatories include Bryan Ferry, World War II forces sweetheart Vera Lynn, Cliff Richard, Pink Floyd's David Gilmour, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sting.
Military commanders were joined by naturalist David Attenborough, artist Tracey Emin, explorer Ranulph Fiennes, novelist Howard Jacobsen, Monty Python comedian Terry Jones, "Top Gear" presenter James May and special forces hero Andy McNab.
Olympic gold medallists including sailor Ben Ainslie, triple jumper Jonathan Edwards, rower Steve Redgrave, were among a host of sporting signatories.
Polls consistently put the "No" campaign ahead, though only by a handful of percentage points.
Prominent independence supporters include James Bond actor Sean Connery and "Trainspotting" novelist Irvine Welsh.
A spokesman for the pro-independence Yes Scotland campaign said: "It's great to know that Scotland has so many friends and admirers, and we know they will all continue to be our friends and admirers after we vote 'Yes' on September 18."
Tuesday saw the first head-to-head televised debate between the leaders of the "Yes" and "No" campaigns.
Former British finance minister Alistair Darling, leading the "No" campaign, was declared the surprise winner over Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, largely on uncertainties surrounding the currency an independent Scotland would use.
AFP
Fri Aug 08 2014
Mick Jagger leads British celebs urging Scots to stay in UK. - File Photo
Pemain badminton negara pamer kekuatan mental menjelang Piala Thomas, Uber
Pemain negara mempamerkan tahap kekuatan mental dan psikologi yang mantap serta semangat juang tinggi menjelang saingan Piala Thomas dan Piala Uber pada 27 April hingga 5 Mei ini.
AWANI Borneo [19/04/2024] – Perubahan iklim | Kekurangan pakar perubatan | Dipercayai dibaham buaya
Laporan berita padat dan ringkas dari Borneo bersama Fauzi Zin
#AWANIBorneo 19 April 2024
- Abang Jo ke Poland kongsi pengalaman Sarawak urus perubahan iklim
- Sabah mahu autonomi kesihatan seperti Sarawak
- Usaha cari warga emas dipercayai dibaham buaya masih buntu
#AWANInews
#AWANIBorneo 19 April 2024
- Abang Jo ke Poland kongsi pengalaman Sarawak urus perubahan iklim
- Sabah mahu autonomi kesihatan seperti Sarawak
- Usaha cari warga emas dipercayai dibaham buaya masih buntu
#AWANInews
Palestin kecam AS guna kuasa veto halang keanggotaan penuh negara itu dalam PBB
Palestin mengecam sekeras-kerasnya keputusan Amerika Syarikat (AS) yang menggunakan kuasa veto bagi menolak usul Majlis Keselamatan Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (UNSC) pada Khamis yang menuntut ke
Pengarah Mentega Terbang gagal peroleh kebenaran merayu, perintah larangan bersuara kekal
Panel hakim membuat keputusan itu selepas menolak permohonan Mohd Khairianwar untuk kebenaran meneruskan rayuan bagi mengetepikan perintah tersebut.
Polis tingkat kawalan, penugasan di KLIA
Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) meningkatkan kawalan dan jumlah penugasan pegawai serta anggota di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA) Terminal 1 dan 2 sejak Selasa lepas.
Titah Adendum di bawah kuasa Lembaga Pengampunan - Anwar
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tidak mahu terlibat dengan perbincangan membabitkan titah tambahan berhubung tahanan di rumah membabitkan bekas Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
Sambutan Aidilfitri Madani Peringkat Kebangsaan dI Sabah esok
Sambutan Aidilfitri bertemakan 'Perpaduan Melalui Perayaan' itu akan dirasmikan Yang Dipertua Negeri Sabah Tun Juhar Mahiruddin dan diserikan lagi dengan kehadiran Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dan Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Pemergian Joseph Kurup kehilangan besar buat negara - TPM
Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof menyifatkan mendian Joseph Kurup sebagai pemimpin yang sangat baik dan banyak menyumbang kepada pembangunan Sabah.
Joseph Kurup guru dan sahabat dalam politik - Hajiji
Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor menyifatkan mendian Tan Sri Joseph Kurup sebagai seorang yang sangat banyak berjasa bukan hanya kepada pembangunan Sabah malah mediang dianggap seperti mentornya dalam politik.
Inisiatif bekalan air bersih di pedalaman bakal jadi tumpuan sidang DUN Sarawak
Empat agensi air di bawah Kementerian Utiliti dan Telekomunikasi Sarawak sedang merangka inisiatif bagi memastikan sasaran 100 peratus bekalan air bersih di seluruh Sarawak menjelang 2030 tercapai.