Sir Sean Connery was reluctant to campaign for Scottish devolution if it meant a higher tax bill

Sir Sean Connery was reluctant to take part in campaigning for Scottish devolution if it landed him with a higher tax bill, newly released files reveal. 

The James Bond actor, who died aged 90 last year, was a staunch supporter of independence and voiced political broadcasts for the Scottish National Party.

But the National Archives files reveal that the star – who spent much of his time in the US, Spain and the Bahamas – was worried he could be liable to pay more tax if he remained too long in the UK during the 1997 devolution referendum campaign.

The files reveal the Blair government’s attempts to recruit the actor, who was knighted in 2000, to the cause.

On June 4, 1997, Peter Mandelson wrote to Mr Blair’s chief of staff, Jonathan Powell about getting Sir Sean’s support.

Lord Mandelson wrote: ‘Sean Connery is very keen to promote a “yes” vote on the referendum on devolution in Scotland.

‘But he is concerned that his scope to help will be badly constrained by the residency rules which mean that he is liable for tax if he spends more than 90 days in the UK in any year.’ 

Lord Mandelson, one of the key architects of New Labour and now a peer, added: ‘He sees this as iniquitous to him personally, and claims that other individuals and indeed ethnic groups (he mentioned the “Arabs”) are not subject to the same strictures.’

The memo reveals that an unknown writer had crossed out the word ‘yes’ and scribbled ‘shurely “yesh”’ on the file – a reference to Sir Sean’s accent.

Sir Sean eventually agreed to join the campaign after being persuaded by SNP leader Alex Salmond that devolution was a stepping stone to independence for Scotland.