Alan Cumming believes Brexit will help cause for Scottish independence

Alan Cumming believes the potential outcomes of Brexit could ‘further and quicken’ the cause for Scottish independence .

During an interview with BBC Scotland ’s The Nine, the Scottish actor said it would be the “only positive thing” to come out of it.

The 54-year-old spoke ahead of the release of the second series of Sky Witness’ show Instinct, where he stars as Dylan Reinhart – an author, psychology professor and former CIA paramilitary officer.

He also chatted about Donald Trump and how his leading role as a gay character is the first for an American network television drama.

Here’s what he had to say during an interview with The Nine presenter Nick Sheridan:

Q: What do you make of the political situation in the United States just now?

Alan Cumming : It’s an absolute nightmare. There’s a white supremacist leading this country, a man who seems deranged to me, who seems mentally ill. The thing I feel most of all is absolute fury with the Republicans who are turning a blind eye to all the insane, radical, dangerous things this president is doing on a daily basis. What can the left do? Nothing until the next election, really. We can be angry we can shout but we can only shout at each other because the other side isn’t listening.

Q: Talk to us about that polarising of views in the context of the UK. I know you keep a close eye on what’s happening at the moment. What do you see the future as being the future for the UK and Scotland?

AC : In my crystal ball, which is tinged with my political leanings, I would hope that Brexit and if the effects of Brexit and that leaked memo the other day with the medical supply issue, food shortages high prices and even civil unrest all being the potential outcome will hopefully further and quicken Scottish independence because that for me would be the only positive thing to come out of this debacle.

Alan Cumming and Nicola Sturgeon pose for selfies on the red carpet at the Scottish BAFTAs
(Image: Wattie Cheung)

Q: If a second referendum was to be held in the coming future would you be as heavily involved this time?

AC : I feel as passionately about it as I did before. I feel people were duped the last time and told they wouldn’t be able to be in the EU. I feel more than ever that if you look at Brexit as another example of Westminster dictating a policy that Scotland didn’t want that’s really what independence is all about. I think the people of Scotland should be able to decide for themselves what they want to do. If they want to be in the EU , they should be in the EU and there are generations of people who have seen, myself included, from the poll tax onwards, as a young man realising that Scotland has been used as an experimental ground, as guinea pigs for Westminster policy. I just feel that, enough is enough.

First Look at Alan Cumming’s new TV show “Instinct”
(Image: CBS/PLANET PHOTOS)

Q: Talking about his show Instinct – season 2 airing in UK next week:

AC : The big unusual thing in the story is that my character is gay and it’s the first ever network drama on American television to have a gay leading character

Q: That could spark a reaction – positive or negative. And you are the face of that progress. Is that something that sits comfortably with you?

AC : I’ve had no negative reaction – in airports in funny cities across America , little ladies come up to me and say I hope you and your husband get to adopt a child. That to me is real progress.

Q: We’ve had the news about the new Bond film – we remember you for your turn as Boris in Golden Eye. Has anyone asked you to come back?

AC : I always think he might. I was frozen alive by computer coolant I don’t know if I’m actually dead. It’s a possibility, stranger things have happened. But no, the phone wasn’t ringing today. I see Daniel Craig sometimes round about where I live in New York, sometimes at the gym (Question: Is he as buff as he looks on the telly) I can confirm that Daniel Craig is buff.