McCartney abused over signing pro-Union letter
Sir Paul McCartney was subjected to a stream of vitriol yesterday after he expressed an opinion on the issue of Scottish independence.
McCartney, whose love song to Scotland, Mull of Kintyre, featured in the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, signed a letter that made the case for the Union.
He joined Sir Mick Jagger, Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Hawking and 200 figures from cinema, sport, television and literature to state: ‘‘What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.’’
On social media, he was described as, variously, ‘‘a prick’’, having ‘‘more money than sense’’, ‘‘well past his best’’ and requiring spoon feeding. He was also branded ‘‘yet another English millionaire with zero connection’’ – although he has owned a farm on Mull since 1966.
McCartney joins a string of figures who have suffered abuse for backing the Union, including JK Rowling.
The attacks on the singer come days after the ugliness of the Scottish independence debate spread from the internet and into the streets.
Jim Murphy, the Labour MP, was forced to suspend a countrywide speaking tour last week because of a campaign of abuse against him.
Alex Salmond found himself at the centre of the row yesterday when he was criticised for refusing to take a hard line against the ‘‘mob’’.
Murphy has vowed to resume his street-corner campaign just as soon as the police can guarantee public safety at his events. Crowds of Yes campaign supporters have taken to turning up at
Sir Paul McCartney has joined figures from cinema, sport, television and literature to support the case for Union. He signed the Let’s Stay Together campaign’s open letter to Scotland and has since come under intense attack. events on his ‘‘100 days, 100 towns’’ tour. Often, they chant abuse at Murphy in an attempt to drown him out.He has been hit by eggs and threatened with violence.
An insider at the Better Together campaign criticised Salmond for failing to take responsibility for the actions of supporters on his side.
There are likely to be further ugly scenes when Ukip leader Nigel Farage attends a rally in Glasgow six days before the referendum.
The abuse suffered by McCartney after he signed the open letter to Scotland mirrors that dished out to other public figures.
After donating to Better Together, Rowling was told: ‘‘Yeah, you stick with England and the tax breaks for you super-rich. Pathetic woman.’’