Sir Paul McCartney was subjected to a stream of vitriol yesterday after he expressed an opinion on the issue of Scottish independence.
McCartney, whose love song to Scotland, Mull of Kintyre, featured in the opening ceremony of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, signed a letter that made the case for the Union.
He joined Sir Mick Jagger, Dame Judi Dench, Stephen Hawking and 200 figures from cinema, sport, television and literature to state: “What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.”
On social media he was described as, variously, “a prick”, having “more money than sense”, “well past his best” and requiring spoon feeding. He was also branded “yet another English millionaire with zero connection” — although he has owned a 600-acre farm on Mull since 1966.
McCartney joins a string of figures who have suffered abuse for backing the Union, including JK Rowling.
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The attacks on the singer come days after the ugliness of the Scottish independence debate spread from the internet and into the streets.
Jim Murphy, the Labour MP, was forced to suspend a countrywide speaking tour last week because of a campaign of abuse against him.
Alex Salmond found himself at the centre of the row yesterday when he was criticised for refusing to take a hard line against the “mob”.
The Scottish first minister went on television to deride Mr Murphy’s claims of intimidation as “ridiculous”. He even dismissed the former Scottish secretary as the equivalent of someone with an “end is nigh” sandwich board around his neck.
Mr Murphy has vowed to resume his street-corner campaign just as soon as the police can guarantee public safety at his events. Crowds of Yes campaign supporters have taken to turning up at events on his “100 days, 100 towns” tour. Often, they chant abuse at Mr Murphy in an attempt to drown him out. On two occasions he has been hit by eggs, while on others he has been threatened with violence.
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Mr Salmond said that he condemned all the “odd idiots” who caused problems on both sides, but he added: “I don’t hold press conferences accusing Mr Murphy or the No campaign of orchestrating these events because I know it would be ridiculous to do so.”
An insider at the Better Together campaign criticised Mr Salmond, however, for failing to take responsibility for the actions of supporters on his side. He said: “If Alex Salmond wanted this intimidation to stop, then one word from him would bring it to an end.”
There are likely to be further ugly scenes when Nigel Farage attends a rally in Glasgow six days before the referendum. The Ukip leader’s decision is a headache for Better Together leaders, who do not want to be associated with him. When he held a press conference in an Edinburgh pub last year, he had to be rescued by police.
The abuse suffered by McCartney after he signed the Let’s Stay Together campaign’s open letter to Scotland mirrors that dished out to other public figures.
After donating to Better Together, Ms Rowling was told: “Yeah, you stick with England and the tax breaks for you super-rich. Pathetic woman.” McCartney’s publicist declined to comment last night.