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| Scottish independence: JK Rowling donates £1m to pro-UK group | Scottish independence: JK Rowling donates £1m to pro-UK group |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Author JK Rowling has made a £1m donation to help fund the campaign against Scottish independence. | Author JK Rowling has made a £1m donation to help fund the campaign against Scottish independence. |
| The writer of the Harry Potter books, who lives in Edinburgh, has publicly backed the Better Together campaign. | The writer of the Harry Potter books, who lives in Edinburgh, has publicly backed the Better Together campaign. |
| Explaining her decision on her website, Ms Rowling said there was a "denial of risks" within the "Yes" campaign. | Explaining her decision on her website, Ms Rowling said there was a "denial of risks" within the "Yes" campaign. |
| She also said there was a "fringe of nationalists who like to demonise anyone who is not blindly and unquestionably pro-independence". | She also said there was a "fringe of nationalists who like to demonise anyone who is not blindly and unquestionably pro-independence". |
| Voters in Scotland will go to the polls on 18 September to decide on their country's future. | Voters in Scotland will go to the polls on 18 September to decide on their country's future. |
| They will be asked the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" | They will be asked the "Yes/No" question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?" |
| In her statement, Ms Rowling, who was born in south Gloucestershire, said she had friends on both sides of the debate, adding that the "Yes" campaign's "romantic outlook strikes a chord with me". | In her statement, Ms Rowling, who was born in south Gloucestershire, said she had friends on both sides of the debate, adding that the "Yes" campaign's "romantic outlook strikes a chord with me". |
| But she added: "My hesitance at embracing independence has nothing to do with lack of belief in Scotland's remarkable people or its achievements. | But she added: "My hesitance at embracing independence has nothing to do with lack of belief in Scotland's remarkable people or its achievements. |
| "The simple truth is that Scotland is subject to the same 21st century pressures as the rest of the world. It must compete in the same global markets, defend itself from the same threats and navigate what still feels like a fragile economic recovery. | "The simple truth is that Scotland is subject to the same 21st century pressures as the rest of the world. It must compete in the same global markets, defend itself from the same threats and navigate what still feels like a fragile economic recovery. |
| "The more I listen to the 'Yes' campaign, the more I worry about its minimisation and even denial of risks. Whenever the big issues are raised - our heavy reliance on oil revenue if we become independent, what currency we'll use, whether we'll get back into the EU - reasonable questions are drowned out by accusations of 'scaremongering'". | "The more I listen to the 'Yes' campaign, the more I worry about its minimisation and even denial of risks. Whenever the big issues are raised - our heavy reliance on oil revenue if we become independent, what currency we'll use, whether we'll get back into the EU - reasonable questions are drowned out by accusations of 'scaremongering'". |
| Referring to the donation she wrote: "I wanted to write this because I always prefer to explain in my own words why I am supporting a cause and it will be made public shortly that I've made a substantial donation to the Better Together campaign, which advocates keeping Scotland part of the United Kingdom." | Referring to the donation she wrote: "I wanted to write this because I always prefer to explain in my own words why I am supporting a cause and it will be made public shortly that I've made a substantial donation to the Better Together campaign, which advocates keeping Scotland part of the United Kingdom." |
| Better Together confirmed the donation was received "recently". | Better Together confirmed the donation was received "recently". |
| Ms Rowling also said: "I also know that there is a fringe of nationalists who like to demonise anyone who is not blindly and unquestionably pro-independence and I suspect, notwithstanding the fact that I've lived in Scotland for 21 years and plan to remain here for the rest of my life, that they might judge me 'insufficiently Scottish' to have a valid view." | Ms Rowling also said: "I also know that there is a fringe of nationalists who like to demonise anyone who is not blindly and unquestionably pro-independence and I suspect, notwithstanding the fact that I've lived in Scotland for 21 years and plan to remain here for the rest of my life, that they might judge me 'insufficiently Scottish' to have a valid view." |
| According to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, Ms Rowling is estimated to be worth £1bn. | According to the latest Sunday Times Rich List, Ms Rowling is estimated to be worth £1bn. |
| Both sides of the independence campaign have now received a number of big individual donations. | Both sides of the independence campaign have now received a number of big individual donations. |
| Recent Electoral Commission figures showed that Ayrshire lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir donated £1m to the SNP earlier this year, taking their total donations to the pro-independence cause to £5.5m. | Recent Electoral Commission figures showed that Ayrshire lottery winners Colin and Chris Weir donated £1m to the SNP earlier this year, taking their total donations to the pro-independence cause to £5.5m. |
| The couple, who have said they are "lifelong supporters of independence", added that the donations had led to them being subjected to "downright nasty" personal attacks. | The couple, who have said they are "lifelong supporters of independence", added that the donations had led to them being subjected to "downright nasty" personal attacks. |
| They won £161m on EuroMillions in 2011 and have also set up a charitable trust to fund good causes. | |
| 'Equal fight' | 'Equal fight' |
| Following news of the donation, First Minister Alex Salmond told the BBC: "JK Rowling's entitled to give money to whatever she pleases and is entitled to express her views. | |
| "When it comes to people in the artistic community, I think the general feeling would be that the substantial majority of them are backing the 'Yes' cause. | "When it comes to people in the artistic community, I think the general feeling would be that the substantial majority of them are backing the 'Yes' cause. |
| "We're now in a period of spending limits and both campaigns are rightly regulated on how much they can spend - I think that's a good thing, because that makes sure we're going to have an equal fight in terms of finance, and it will be then up to the people to decide and make their judgement." | "We're now in a period of spending limits and both campaigns are rightly regulated on how much they can spend - I think that's a good thing, because that makes sure we're going to have an equal fight in terms of finance, and it will be then up to the people to decide and make their judgement." |
| Four facts on JK Rowling | |
| Speaking on behalf of the Better Together campaign, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said Ms Rowling's donation would be put to "good use". | Speaking on behalf of the Better Together campaign, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Margaret Curran said Ms Rowling's donation would be put to "good use". |
| She added: "This is a significant and welcome intervention from one of this country's most talented and successful women. Separation is failing to win support among women and more and more of us are saying No Thanks to Alex Salmond's plan. | She added: "This is a significant and welcome intervention from one of this country's most talented and successful women. Separation is failing to win support among women and more and more of us are saying No Thanks to Alex Salmond's plan. |
| "It doesn't take a wizard to work out that Alex Salmond's case for breaking up the UK simply isn't a risk worth taking. The best way to make sure that we can make our country fairer is by working together across the whole of the UK, not putting a barrier between us." | "It doesn't take a wizard to work out that Alex Salmond's case for breaking up the UK simply isn't a risk worth taking. The best way to make sure that we can make our country fairer is by working together across the whole of the UK, not putting a barrier between us." |