Groundskeeper Willie From The Simpsons Intervenes In Scottish Independence

It's The Scottish Independence Intervention You've All Been Waiting For
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Shrek has already said he hopes Scotland stays in the UK - now, another great cartoon Scot has intervened to have their say.

Groundskeeper Willie, the redheaded caretaker at the school attended by Bart and Lisa in long-running animated sitcom The Simpsons, is less reluctant to give his view than Mike Myers, the voice of the green ogre, was.

He notes how close the polls are and says: "I am hesitant to throw my support to either side - be it the right one, or the obviously wrong one."

Willie is a bit more pro-independence than Shrek, ripping off shirt to reveal the words 'Aye or Die' on his chest before claiming: "That's not a tattoo, that's a birth mark."

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Groundskeeper Willie does not sit on the fence

As well as calling for independence, Willie says he should lead the new country, decrying Alex Salmond as the "safe choice" while he is the better one.

"I’ve lived in America most of my life, so I’ve seen first hand how not to run a country," he says.

"For a leader who can stand in the proud tradition of William Wallace and Andy Murray, won't you consider the return of Scotland's prodigal son - Groundskeeper Willie?

"Willie won't back down to world leaders, because I haven't a clue who they are and I'm not willing to learn.

The video was released ahead of 26th season of The Simpsons, which airs this month on Sky 1.

Who stands where

Scottish Independence: Who Stands Where
No: Barack Obama(01 of12)
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The American electorate may have gone off their president after five and a half years in office but Barack Obama still enjoys 2008 levels of popularity in the UK. People from the No Campaign probably fainted when Obama said "the key word is 'united'" when asked about Scotland. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Yes: Sir Sean Connery(02 of12)
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Austin Powers may be against independence but James Bond isn't. Sir Sean has told his fellow Scots that independence "is too good an opportunity to miss". He also said the potential boosts to the film and creative industries are "particularly exciting". (credit:Danny Lawson/PA Archive)
No: Hillary Clinton (03 of12)
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"I would hate to have you lose Scotland," the potential next American president told Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. "I hope that it doesn't happen but I don't have a vote in Scotland. But I would hope it doesn't happen." She added: "I would think it would be a loss for both sides but, again, I don't have a vote." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Yes: Brian Cox (Not That One)(04 of12)
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The face of BBC science has not declared for or against Scottish independence but his namesake, actor Brian Cox is firmly in favour of it.He has provided the voice of Duggy Dog, an animated Highland Terrier created by the Yes campaign who aims to "sniff out fact from fiction" in the independence debate. (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
No: David Bowie(05 of12)
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Since dabbling in right-wing politics in the 1970s, Bowie's views appear to have mulled somewhat.When Kate Moss collected his BRIT award earlier this year, she read a statement on behalf that asked Scotland to "stay with us".The statement said: "In Japanese myth the rabbits from my old costume that Kate's wearing live on the moon. Kate comes from Venus and I from Mars, so that's nice. I'm completely delighted to have a Brit for being the best male, but I am, aren't I Kate? I think it's a great way to end the day. Thank you very, very much and Scotland - stay with us." (credit:Martin Rickett/PA Wire)
Yes: Alan Cumming(06 of12)
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This Scot is firmly pro-independence. So much so, the New York-based actor bought a flat in Edinburgh last year so he would be able to vote in September's referendum. Unfortunately, it was deemed not to be his "main address" and, by extension, he will not be able to vote. (credit:Andy Kropa /Invision/AP)
No: JK Rowling(07 of12)
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JK Rowling, who wrote her first Harry Potter book while living in Edinburgh and still lives in the Scottish capital, has given £1 million to defeat Alex Salmond.She wrote she was "no fan of the Westminster government".She added: "The simple truth is that Scotland is subject to the same 21st century pressures as the rest of the world. The more I listen to the Yes campaign, the more I worry about its minimisation and even denial of risks."A Twitter account digested this and reflected: "What a #bitch after we gave her shelter in our city when she was a single mum." (credit:Ian West/PA Wire)
Yes: Billy Bragg(08 of12)
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Always outspoken, Bragg's take on Scottish independence is that it would be as good for his native England as it would for north of the border. The left-winger said: "Scottish independence throws up the possibility of a more progressive England. We won’t be British any more, we’ll be English." (credit:Jonathan Short/Invision/AP)
No: The BBC, According To Protestors(09 of12)
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On Sunday, 2,000 people gathered outside BBC Scotland's Glasgow headquarters to protest what they saw as its pro-union stance.A couple who attended the protest said: "The BBC is paid for by all of us whether Yes or No but it doesn’t reflect both sides of the campaign. They don't cover stories that damage No, but are always headlining stories against Yes." (credit:Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
No...ish: Pope Francis(10 of12)
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Pope Francis voiced concerns about Scottish independence - but his comments were non-commital to the point where both the yes and no camps welcomed them.Speaking about secession movements across the world, the infallable representative of God on earth said countries breaking away from larger states should be considered on a "case-by-case basis".He acknowledged the case was "clear" in in some cases but listed Scotland as one of the cases where "I ask myself it is so clear".He said: "Let's think of the former Yugoslavia. Obviously, there are nations with cultures so different that couldn't even be stuck together with glue."The Yugoslavian case is very clear, but I ask myself if it is so clear in other cases - Scotland, Padania, Catalunya."No campaigners said the Pope was "right to warn about the impact of division" while No campaigners said: "As His Holiness says, these matters should be looked at on a case-by-case basis." (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Yes: Glasgow's Sunday Herald(11 of12)
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The Sunday Herald became the first Scottish paper to back the yes campaign in May with this front cover. It wrote: "We understand the past, as best we can, and guess at the future. But history is as nothing to the lives of the children being born now, this morning, in the cities, towns and villages of this country."On their behalf, we assert a claim to a better, more decent, more just future in which a country's governments will be ruled always by the decisions of its citizens.'' (credit:Sunday Herald)
Yes. No. Wait, What?: Elijah Wood(12 of12)
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Sir Sean appeared to win an ally when Lord of The Rings actor Elijah Wood said Scotland should "fucking go for it" with independence.But he later backtracked, claiming he had misunderstood the question he was asked at the Edinburgh Film Festival. Speaking to the Scotsman, he said: "You know, in truth, I thought they were talking about independent cinema. I mean, it’s a film festival.” (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)