Big guns O'Brien and Farmer publicly back independence

THE momentum behind the independence movement gathered pace yesterday, with the public endorsement of two high-profile Scots.

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, the leading Roman Catholic in Scotland, and Sir Tom Farmer, the Kwik-Fit founder, both gave tentative support in principle to the idea of independence.

Cardinal O'Brien, 68, voiced frustration with the Scottish Parliament as he backed the idea of separation.

He told the Catholic Herald newspaper: "I would not get too involved in the politics of independence, but I am happy that, if it is the wish of the people, Scotland becomes an independent country.

"There is currently some frustration among the Scots about the say they have over what happens here, and that is part of what is pushing the independence movement.

"I can see this coming, perhaps not in the next few years, but before too long."

As the leader of a Scottish church that is itself separate from its English counterpart, Cardinal O'Brien admitted it was difficult to argue for ecclesiastical, but not political, independence.

In another interview, with Scotland on Sunday, he said the success of smaller independent nations such as Ireland and Denmark had shown Scotland the way ahead. "Scottish national identity has always been strong," he said. "Ultimately multinational identities are harder to express than national ones."

Sir Tom, who gave 100,000 to the SNP just over a week ago, said the current devolution settlement was unsustainable and he believed Scotland would become a separate nation.

The Edinburgh businessman, who owns Hibernian football club, said: "What we have got in Scotland at the moment with devolution is a halfway house, and that is just not right. The question is how do we go forward from this? None of us has a crystal ball, but there is a very, very high chance that we will end up with independence. If you really press me, I think it is going to happen."

He added: "We are five million people wanting to be the greatest small country in the world, wondering why things haven't happened quicker."

Alex Salmond, the SNP leader, welcomed the comments from both figures, calling them "men of vision and stature in Scotland".

He said: "I am delighted they have both issued positive signals about independence and self-determination for the nation.

"Their remarks show that a significant shift is occurring in Scottish politics."

The Scottish Labour Party said Mr Farmer's comments were hardly surprising coming from an SNP donor and that they were not representative of the wider business community.

The remarks from both men follow a ground-breaking survey in The Scotsman on Saturday which interviewed 100 leading Scots, finding that 16 were staunchly in favour of independence, 53 were in favour of the Union, but that 31 were torn on what the best path for Scotland should be.

The interventions by Sir Tom and Cardinal O'Brien will help the SNP build on the success of its conference in Perth and take the initiative on independence into next year's election.

There had been speculation the political parties would fight the election on domestic policies, not independence. But this seems to have been overtaken, both by the interest in independence by figures outside politics, and by the main parties themselves who now seem keen to fight the election on that issue.