Scottish Independence: Eddie Izzard says 'Fans will hate me for backing No campaign'
The comedian said he expected some people to boycott his shows on account of his support for the Better Together campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.Eddie Izzard has said he will lose fans over his public plea for Scotland to remain part of the UK.
The comedian told Herald Scotland that he expected some people to hate him and boycott his shows because of his views.
Speaking before a fundraising gig for the Better Together campaign at the Edinburgh Festival Theatre on Friday, Izzard told the newspaper: "I want to say this, but I don't want to push it really hard, because obviously some people are just going to hate me for saying this, and will not watch anything that I ever do again. I have to accept that.
“But I just feel that as a family member of the United Kingdom, I feel it would be wrong of me not to just say, 'Please don't go'.”
And the longstanding Labour supporter admitted that part of his motive for volunteering for the show was to gain political experience.
“It is all experience for me,” he said.
“When I try and get elected, I would like to be someone who has experience, rather than just say, 'Hey, on Tuesday I thought I'd become a politician.' That didn't seem the best way of doing things."
The 52-year-old transvestite also said he would like to emulate the First Minister in politics.
"Alex Salmond? I think he's a very canny person. I think he's determined and he's been at this a long time ... When I get into politics I'd like to be a canny politician as well."
With the No campaign's lead narrowing, Izzard was asked if he felt the Yes side had momentum and might win on 18 September.
"I can't really sense that. A week is a long time in politics, as we say. And five months is an incredibly long time. I think it's everything to play for but, you know, I just hope Scotland stays with us," he said.
Despite his reservations, Izzard received no heckling at the show, during which he appeared alongside Better Together chairman Alistair Darling to launch the campaign’s “Scotland, please don’t go” slogan.
“You can be Scottish, you can be British and you can be European. We can have that,” he said.
“I say have the parliament, have the more power, but be with us. Like David Bowie said, ‘Stay with us Scotland’ and I’m saying the same – don’t go.”
Izzard joins a series of other high-profile names against Scottish independence including Sir Alex Ferguson, John Barrowman, Emma Thompson and Susan Boyle. Those for it include Sean Connery, Frankie Boyle and Alan Cumming.
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