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Sean Hannity ’s expansive sigh of relief could be heard all the way from Israel (probably), where he is currently putting together a FOX News documentary on what he claims is a proportionate military operation by the IDF in Gaza.
Russell Brand has made headlines repeatedly over the last week for his fluid piece-by-piece dissection of Hannity’s “one-sided” coverage of the conflict , which has seen over 1883 Palestinians perish in the region – a majority of which have been civilian casualties – compared to 63 Israelis, all but three of whom have been soldiers.
But it seems he’s turned his attentions away from tearing Hannity’s combative interview technique to shreds to engage in the other big political debate gripping the UK – Scottish Independence.
It’s particularly topical today, after a heated televised discussion between Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond, and Alistair Darling , the leader of the pro-Union Better Together campaign, was broadcast last night (5 August).
And Brand was quick to insist – in a somewhat rambling minute-long segment – that the Scottish National Party would not represent the interests of Scottish citizens any better than Westminster has.
Show all 24 1 /24Scottish Independence: For and against Scottish Independence: For and against Vivienne Westwood YES: “I hate England. I like Scotland because somehow I think they are better than we are. They are more democratic.”
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Scottish Independence: For and against Bob Geldof NO: "This argument needs to be had among us all, you can't selfishly resolve it amongst yourselves by taking an easy opt-out clause."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Leonard Cohen UNDECIDED: “People are trying to make their lives significant,” he said. “[They] are engaged in a struggle for self-respect and significance.”
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Scottish Independence: For and against James McAvoy UNDECIDED: “If you vote for continued unification or independence there is no protest vote – that’s it. And that could be it for decades, for centuries. There’s no going back from it."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Bill Clinton NO: “Unity with maximum self-determination sends a powerful message to a world torn by identity conflicts that it is possible to respect our differences while living and working together. This is the great challenge of our time. The Scots can show us how to meet it.”
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Scottish Independence: For and against George Galloway NO: “There will be havoc if you vote Yes in September. Havoc in Edinburgh and throughout the land and you will break the hearts of many others too… I know which side I’m on. I’m with JK Rowling. Just say No.”
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Scottish Independence: For and against David Beckham NO: “We want to let you know how very much we value our relationship and friendship. Of course regardless of your decision that will never change, however, my sincere hope is that you will vote to renew our historic bond which has been such a success over the centuries and the envy of the entire world. What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let's stay together.”
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Scottish Independence: For and against David Bowie NO: "Scotland stay with us"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Eddie Izzard NO: "You can be Scottish, you can be British and you can be European. We can have that. “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."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Frankie Boyle YES: "It’s an ‘aye’ (for Independence) from me, man."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Andy Murray NO: "I started competing for Great Britain when I was 11. A lot of people forget that. I didn't like it when Salmond got the Scottish flag up at Wimbledon"
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Scottish Independence: For and against The Proclaimers YES: 'Scotland has huge national resources, with its people, its wave power – all the possibilities that this country has...we need to take charge of our own affairs'
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Scottish Independence: For and against Susan Boyle NO: "I am a proud, patriotic Scot, passionate about my heritage and my country. But I am not a nationalist."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Chris Hoy NO: "It will weaken the British team obviously if Scotland went separately, and it would be harder for the Scottish athletes, initially, to establish themselves in a new training environment, with new coaches, with a different environment altogether."
Scottish Independence: For and against Alex Ferguson NO: "Eight-hundred-thousand Scots, like me, live and work in other parts of the United Kingdom. We don't live in a foreign country; we are just in another part of the family of the UK"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Alan Cumming YES: "The evidence is clear - in the past 15 years we have become stronger economically, socially, culturally and globally. The world is waiting for us and I know Scotland is ready."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Emma Thompson NO: "Why insist on building a new border between human beings in an ever-shrinking world where we are still struggling to live alongside each other?"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Billy Bragg YES: Independence would "create a new settlement that puts people before profit. Those in England who believe that our own society needs to be rebalanced along similar lines should wake up and join the debate"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Marcus Brigstocke NO: "If Scotland go their own way (based on fingers crossed, f**k the Tories, William Wallace bollocks it'll be a damn shame. Still wish 'em well"
Scottish Independence: For and against Rod Stewart NO: "I'd hate to see the union broken after all these years. It's always been a spiritual home - but as I don't live there I shouldn't comment on independence. If it's good for the Scots I'm happy."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Sean Connery YES: "As a Scot and as someone with a lifelong love for both Scotland and the arts, I believe the opportunity of independence is too good to miss"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Al Kennedy NO: "Salmond has the warm potato head of a man who is Scottish and – we hope – no threat"
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Scottish Independence: For and against Annie Lennox YES: "There is an opportunity for something innovative and visionary. Scotland could have some kind of new, ethical, visionary stance and it could take on some fresh ideas. That could be amazing, really amazing."
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Scottish Independence: For and against Morrissey YES: "They must cut ties with the United King-dumb. I love Scotland, and I love the Scottish spirit and they do not need Westminster in the least."
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"I like things getting smaller and more devolved - more power for the people," he said, appearing at first to favour the SNP campaign.
Then he told his YouTube followers to ignore "useless" Alex Salmond and his policies entirely and focus instead on governing themselves as individuals.
"Them SNLP or whatever they're called. Don't trust them, they'll be useless, they'll be no good."
"I wouldn't imagine the Scottish government, independent or in conjunction with Westminster, are really going to represent you people because, as you know, that's not how politics work," he continued.
"Don't get excited about but yeah, have independence if you want, but actually the true independence we need is independence from governments not independence from imaginary nations."
No, we’re not quite sure what he’s on about entirely either. But you can attempt to decipher what he's saying incredibly quickly in the video below:
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