Britain’s most successful lottery winners, Colin and Chris Weir from Ayrshire, today donated £1 million to the SNP’s referendum campaign.
The Weirs, who won £161 million on the EuroMillions draw in July this year, have been supporters of Scottish independence for many years – Colin Weir stood for the SNP in 1987 – and their donation had been widely anticipated.
Nevertheless, it still represents a massive boost to the independence cause, particularly as it follows the bequest of almost £1 million from the estate of the late Edwin Morgan, Scotland’s makar.
The £1 million donation from the Weirs represents the largest single donation in the SNP’s 77-year history and virtually ensures that the pro-independence campaign will be able to outspend the pro-Union campaign by a considerable margin when the referendum does take place.
First minister Alex Salmond, who spoke to the Weirs several times after their win, today welcomed the donation.
“The Weirs have experienced great good fortune and they have already shown their generosity with their support for the Waverley paddle steamer and causes in their community," he said. “They have had a long-standing commitment to the SNP and their welcome donation will allow the party to continue its work and to prepare for the referendum campaign ahead.”
The Weirs have already set out their financial support for the Waverley paddle steamer, a local elderly care home and their intention to set up a charitable trust.
“We have been supporters of the SNP for a long time," Chris Weir said, "but this is about more than party politics. Every society, every country should have the right and the opportunity to determine its own path. That’s something I’ve believed in strongly for a long time.
“We want to give the people of Scotland a fair chance in the referendum campaign that’s why we are supporting the SNP now and into the independence referendum.
“The only people with the right to decide Scotland’s future are the people of Scotland themselves and we want to support the SNP and the referendum campaign in helping Scotland make that decision fairly."
And Colin Weir added: “It’s no secret I support the SNP and stood for the party. I backed the party in the 1979 referendum and the behaviour of the UK parties convinced me that we should support this referendum properly.
“The party has done a good job in government and is doing a good job for Scotland. You can already see a difference and an increase in confidence around the country. But what matters to us first is that the SNP and the people of Scotland have a fair opportunity to make the case and decide on Scotland’s future.”
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