Legendary actor Sir Sean Connery could be called to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament as part of a plan to set up of a film industry in Scotland, it emerged today.
The former James Bond star has put his name to a petition being considered by members of Holyrood's cross-party Education, Culture and Sport Committee. Edinburgh-born Sir Sean and Canada-based planning engineer Mr Howard Campbell have called on the Parliament to do all it can to support a Scottish film industry.
At a meeting of the committee today, Tory MSP Mr Brian Monteith and SNP shadow education minister Mr Mike Russell both said Sir Sean's presence at the Parliament could be a massive boost to the campaign. But the call was rejected by Labour MSPs, who said they feared the appearance of the well-known SNP supporter could be hijacked by the Nationalists for political gain.
Mr Monteith said: 'The issue needs some electrification and some zeal brought into it. I wonder if the committee could invite Sir Sean to appear before us. That would certainly attract attention to the issue and put it on the agenda.
'Some people might think I'm being flippant, but unless someone like Sir Sean Connery, who after all was a great supporter of this Parliament, is brought in it will be put to the bottom of the pile.'
But committee member Ms Jackie Baillie (Labour) said the committee was too busy to invite Sir Sean - and said she feared his presence would be used for political gain by the SNP.
She said: 'I have less sympathy with bringing Sir Sean Connery to the committee because I suspect it would be used for other purposes - and not the purposes of this petition.
'The committee has a huge amount of work to before the Parliament is dissolved next year and therefore I think we should leave it to a future committee.'
Ms Baillie was backed by her Labour colleague, committee convener, Ms Karen Gillon: 'Perhaps we should have actors who are working and are resident in Scotland rather than an actor who lives in Los Angeles.'
The committee finally agreed to look at the matter again later in the year once their workload has eased. Neither Sir Sean or Mr Campbell were available for comment today.
PA