Amy Macdonald: Time for bickering over Scottish independence to end

Oct 31 2012 EXCLUSIVE by Joe McGuire

Amy Macdonald Image 3

AMY Macdonald might be as Scottish as a be-kilted bagpiper eating shortbread at Edinburgh castle, but when it comes to national independence she admits she’s already fed up.

The Glaswegian musician reckons that politicians on both sides need to stop having a go at one another and engage in a constructive dialogue about the future of Scotland.

But the This Is The Life singer, speaking to The Glaswegian ahead of her sold-out engagement at O2 ABC tonight, revealed she thinks that may be beyond our political elite.

Amy said: “It’ll be better when we can actually have a proper debate but I’m not sure if that’ll ever happen.

“Politicians don’t do that very often, but I would hope that it’ll be positive rather than the mess we’ve got just now.

“We’re at the very beginning of the debate, there’s a lot of to-ing and froing going on just now and I just want it to get into an actual positive debate about the pros and cons instead of the constant bickering and mudslinging.”

But Amy, who in 2008 was named the Scottish Person of the Year by our sister paper The Daily Record, remained close-lipped on the subject of where she stands on an independent Scotland, saying: “ I’ve never been one of those people who force my beliefs on other people so I’ll just keep that to myself.”

Whatever happens to Scotland, Amy is guaranteed to remain a popular voice on the world stage, with her music winning several international awards and charting across the globe.

But when it comes to that most coveted of music markets, America, the Bishopbriggs-born singer says her priority lies with her loyal fanbase this side of the pond.

She said: “I wouldn’t discount the whole America thing but it isn’t that big a deal for me because you have to spend a lot of time over there so I wouldn’t want to forget the support I’ve had in Europe and at home for that.

“I’d rather go see people who want to see me play rather than chase something that may never happen.

“I think too many people spend their lives thinking America, America, America and I’ve never been like that.”

And the Mr Rockand Roll singer wanted to thank the home support that’s made tonight’s gig a sold out affair.

She said: “I love playing gigs here, it’s home and it’s always really special.”