Line of Duty’s Martin Compston backs Nicola Sturgeon’s call for a Scottish independence referendum

Martin Compston has lavished praised on Nicola Sturgeon as he backed calls for another independence referendum.

The Line of Duty star said the SNP leader was the ‘most competent’ person to lead Scotland to recovery following the economic fallout from coronavirus lockdowns.

The Scottish actor, who stars as Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama, also made a critical comparison to Boris Johnson‘s approach to the pandemic, citing how the Prime Minister was ‘shaking people’s hands’ back in March 2020.

Laying out his support for Scottish independence, he added that Scotland had consistently not voted for the last decade of Conservative governments.

Line of Duty star Martin Compston said SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was the ‘most competent’ person to lead Scotland to recovery following the economic fallout from the coronavirus lockdowns.

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‘I just believe that Scotland should be in charge of its own destiny,’ he told the Evening Standard. 

‘I think there’s been several things, but the main thing is Scotland, pretty much by definition, is a centre-left country and England, our biggest partner in the union, is becoming more centre-right.’

Compston also blamed the continued talk of independence following the 2014 referendum on the Brexit vote, saying if the UK hadn’t left the EU then ‘we wouldn’t be talking about independence [again] for a long time’.

The 37-year-old revealed that he has not changed his political opinions ‘my whole adult life’.

The Scottish actor, who stars as Steve Arnott in the hit BBC drama, made a critical comparison between Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson’s approach to the pandemic, citing how the Prime Minister was ‘shaking people’s hands’ back in March 2020

Compston recently found himself at the centre of a twitter storm after he encouraged Scots to back Nicola Sturgeon in the May Scottish Parliament election.

He urged Scots not to leave the outcome of Thursday’s election to chance, calling on them to back the SNP in the ballot.

But he became embroiled in a spat with Tory MPs and voters who accused the Greenock-born star of ‘hypocrisy’ because he now lives in Las Vegas with his American wife. 

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser tweeted: ‘Another “celeb” who doesn’t live here telling us how to vote.’

Compston clapped back, sharing a picture of a Tory campaign flyer sent to his home in Greenock, adding: ‘I see Scottish tory twitter and their bots enraged an actor would express an opinion’

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Compston clapped back, sharing a picture of a Tory campaign flyer sent to his home in Greenock, and hitting back at critics who accused him of being a ‘hypocrite’ and ‘telling them how to vote.’

The actor relocated to Nevada in 2019 with his American wife, actress Tianna Flynn, their baby boy, and their dog King. 

But the 36-year-old said he pays ‘top rate tax in Scotland and always has,’ adding: ‘I see Scottish tory twitter and their bots enraged an actor would express an opinion. 

‘Apparently it isn’t valid either as they claim I don’t live here. In that case could you do me, the postman and the environment a favour and stop sending me literature asking for my vote.’ 

Compston was joined by actors Alan Cumming and Brian Cox, crime writer Val McDermid and Mogwai musician Stuart Braithwaite in giving support to the SNP.

Shrek and Bond to Bowie and the Nightcrawler: The celebrities who have thrown their weight behind the bid for Scottish independence  

Val McDermid: The bestselling crime author and prominent independence supporter was treated to a series of taxpayer-funded receptions at the First Minister’s official residence, Bute House in Edinburgh. 

Miss Sturgeon, who described herself as a ‘fan girl’ when she interviewed the author at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in 2015, also hosted a ‘book launch reception’ for her in 2019. 

Miss McDermid has regularly talked about her support of Scottish independence, and claimed in 2015 that it is only ‘a matter of time’ until Scotland separates from the UK. 

Val McDermid : The bestselling crime author and prominent independence supporter was treated to a series of taxpayer-funded receptions at the First Minister’s official residence

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Left: Actor Alan Cumming and right, Brian Cox, who said Scotland ‘has what it takes to be an independent country’

Alan Cumming: The actor, who has starred as the Nightcrawler in X-Men, Spy Kids and James Bond, lives in New York. He backed the Yes campaign six years ago and said he would return to Scotland for indyref2.

Brian Cox: The Scottish-born actor, who had starring roles in The Bourne films and most recently HBO’s Succession, said Scotland ‘has what it takes to be an independent country’. 

Stuart Braithwaite: The musician is a staunch advocate of the SNP, and slammed Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross. 

He tweeted: ‘Moron Douglas Ross can’t open his mouth without comically disastrous consequences. It’s galling that anyone is even considering voting for this dolt to run our country.’

Comedian Frankie Boyle

Left, actress Emma Thompson and right, Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling

Celebrities that threw their weight behind the Scottish bid for independence in 2014 include Harry Potter author JK Rowling, actors John Barrowman, Mike Myers and Emma Thompson, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, tennis star Andy Murray, singer Annie Lennox, comedians Frankie Boyle, Billy Connolly and Kevin Bridges, the late Sir Sean Connery who died in 2020 and David Bowie, who died in 2016. 

Left, comedian Kevin Bridges and right, tennis champ Andy Murray

Former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson

The late Sir Sean Connery who died in 2020, and right, David Bowie, who died in 2016