Mark Millar: Alex Salmond 'is an amazing politician'.
The SNP slammed Labour policies on knife crime, teachers and the legal system – as First Minister Alex Salmond picked up a ‘Kick Ass’ supporter.
Comic-book writer and film-maker Mark Millar, whose Hollywood hits include ‘Kick Ass’ and ‘Wanted’, gave his backing to Mr Salmond and praised the SNP’s support of the Scottish film industry, as the party prepared to release its manifesto.
In a video posted on the SNP website, Mr Millar said it was “unusual” for him to come out in support of a political party, but that he felt he had to “take a stand”.
He praised the SNP government’s performance and said Mr Salmond was “an amazing politician”.
He added: “My own personal experience with Alex Salmond is when his office called me a few weeks ago, and just said: ‘Is there anything we can do to help the Scottish film industry?’
“I’m very lucky that I work in Hollywood and I am doing all the things I’ve wanted to do, but there are a lot of talented people in this country who haven’t been given the same opportunities that I have.
“So I had an idea, a crazy notion of putting business people in touch with filmmakers and having the government organising it. Instead of the government just handing out money to make films, having other people invest in movies and do it a bit more like the Hollywood system.
“I met with Alex, we chatted about it and he said 'let’s do it'. I love the idea it wasn’t the case of let’s have ten more meetings about this – it was just, ‘that will work, let’s do it’.”
Mr Salmond said: “Mark is an outstanding example of Scotland’s creative talent at its best.
“I am delighted that he is backing my re-election as First Minister and even more delighted that he has offered his support to grow the Scottish film industry commercially.”
Meanwhile the SNP said Labour policies on teaching, knife crime and the legal system were “crumbling” under criticism.
Labour’s promises on teacher numbers, tackling knife crime, and changing the legal system have all come under fire from experts in the past week.
Minister for Parliament and SNP candidate Bruce Crawford said Labour pledges were “unravelling”.
He added: “Scotland’s police officers, Scotland’s prison officers and now the Howard League have attacked their knife crime plans as impractical, ineffective and unworkable.
“Today, Scotland’s teaching unions are raising their concerns about Labour’s piecemeal approach to teacher numbers.
“And where there is a review going into the very serious role of corroboration in our justice system by Lord Carloway, it is premature of anyone to make early judgements.
“Tackling the low prosecution rates for rape and the issue of corroboration in rape cases is something that must be addressed – but we must do it properly and not by press release.”
IN DETAIL
- See the full Mark Millar interview on the SNP website
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Prison spokesman takes ‘serious issue’ with Labour knife policy
