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JK Rowling has defended her views on Scottish independence and taken part in a Twitter debate with critics.
The Harry Potter author has repeatedly pledged her support for the Better Together campaign ahead of the referendum on 18 September.
She donated £1 million to the cause in June and published a statement explaining why she wants Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom.
Yesterday, Rowling’s rallying tweet reading “people before flags, answers not slogans, reason not ranting, unity not enmity #bettertogether” prompted a flood of replies from those in favour of Alex Salmond’s Yes campaign for an independent Scotland.
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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One user attacked her decision to donate so much money to the anti-independence campaign when the money could have been spent on helping “many sick children”.
Rowling refuted this argument, reminding the critic that to date, she has donated an eight figure sum “to combat social deprivation & MS in Scotland” and adding the hashtag #whathaveyoudoneforScotlandlately?.
“I didn’t donate £1m to ‘no’ out of self-interest, but because I care very deeply about the people who still live where I once was,” she wrote. “They are being asked to play a game before they’re told the rules. If it goes badly wrong, they will pay. I won’t. They will.”
The 49-year-old novelist received support from “passionate” fans backing her views, whom she thanked for “caring about Scotland”.
Rowling emphasised to critics that she has “Scottish, English and French blood”. “After 20 years and marriage to a Scot, my allegiances are here,” she wrote.
Her comments come shortly after the Yes campaign took the lead for the first time in a recent YouGov poll with 51 per cent against Better Together’s 49 per cent just 11 days before the vote.
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