Rupert Murdoch Wades Into Scottish Independence Debate

With just over a week to go before a Scottish independence referendum that could see Scotland split from the British union, News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch has taken to Twitter to add his own, if not entirely conclusive, two cents to the debate.

In a flurry of tweets on Wednesday, the media mogul — and grandson of a Scot — pondered the question of Scotland as an independent country, suggesting at one point that its citizens would be better off without their English political overlords in London.

Bigger problem! Wrestling with Scottish vote. Scottish Sun No. 1. Head over heart, or just maybe both lead to same conclusion.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 10, 2014

Scots better people than to be dependants of London. Hard choice with real pain for some time. Maybe too much.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 10, 2014

Media observers have suggested that Murdoch’s Scottish tabloid The Scottish Sun, the country’s best-selling paper, could be poised to express its support for independence. An article in The Guardian pointed to the paper’s derisory tone towards the Better Together campaign aimed at maintaining the union and its recent swipes at the English politicians desperately pushing for a “no” vote.

Murdoch’s political sway in the U.K. is renowned, with his biggest-selling daily The Sun famously printing “It’s The Sun What Won It” on the cover after the 1992 general election, in which it helped secure an unexpected victory for the Conservative party.

Murdoch’s Wednesday tweets saw Piers Morgan use the platform to claim he loved the messages, perhaps in a sarcastic comment on their use of grammar. Murdoch quickly swiped back at the former editor of one of his rival papers.

Piers Morgan seems unemployed after failing to attract any audience in US. Seemed out of place. Once talented, now safe to ignore.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 10, 2014

However, later in the day Murdoch sent out another message that appeared to retract any offense he may have caused.

Did not mean to hurt Piers Morgan. Piers a friend and a legend.

— Rupert Murdoch (@rupertmurdoch) September 10, 2014

Numerous celebrities have come out in recent weeks to voice their opinion on the subject of Scottish independence. J.K. Rowling has been one of the most vocal against the split, with the English-born and Scotland-based Harry Potter author donating $1.68 million to the Better Together campaign and regularly speaking out on the issue. Last month English figures including Mick Jagger, Judi Dench and Simon Cowell signed a letter urging Scotland to stay in the union. Supporters of independence include Scots such as Sean Connery and Alan Cumming, the latter this week returning to his native country and calling on voters to seize the “wonderful opportunity” of independence.

Sep. 10, 11:10 a.m. Updated to include Rupert Murdoch’s second tweet regarding Piers Morgan

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