Ex-Hearts star Michael Stewart backs independence

Former Hearts and Hibs midfielder Michael Stewart is backing Scottish independence. Picture: Jane Barlow

Stewart, now a television pundit, helped launch the Sport for Yes campaign yesterday. The former Hearts, Hibs and Manchester United player, who was capped four times at international level, said: “I firmly believe a Yes vote in September will lead to a huge upsurge in self-belief and confidence for our country – two crucial components in sport linked to performance and achieving your goals. My sport already competes as a nation in our own right and I was fortunate to pull on the dark blue strip to compete, but not everyone has had the chance. A Yes vote means more opportunity for people from all walks of life, but especially for sport.”

Former world featherweight boxing champion Alex Arthur, already a declared Yes voter, joined the launch, along with judo’s Connie Ramsay and karate and kick-boxing champion Samera Ashraf.

Sport minister Shona Robison said: “Sport for Yes is a new and exciting part of the grassroots Yes movement bringing together athletes, former athletes, sports men and women, and fans of sport.”

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