SCOTS actor Brian Cox has revealed he would change the name of the Scottish National Party (SNP) if he got his way.
The Succession star was speaking on the Rest Is Politics: Leading yesterday with journalist Alastair Campbell when he made the admission.
The 76-year-old offered an honest assessment to Tony Blair’s former spokesman and questioned why Scotland’s governing party had never changed the name to get away from the “horrors of national socialism”.
He also revealed that he believes a United Federation would be the best way for the United Kingdom to operate – claiming it is not equal as it stands.
When asked by Campbell about how he got involved with the SNP after being a Labour supporter for many years, Cox pulled no punches.
The actor said: “We voted to stay, we didn’t want to leave and we [Scots] want to get back there [EU], the Scots have always been international.
“It should be called the Scottish Independence Party not the Scottish National Party.
“I would change the name, get rid of that name, it narrows everything, especially when we think of national socialism and all the horrors that go with the name national socialism.
“I’m all for redesigning the party in that way.”
The three-time Emmy winner also revealed that he believes Labour would actively thrive in an independent Scotland.
He said: “Once we have an independent Scotland there will be a Labour party, a Conservative party.
“I’d love to see Labour come back to a free Scotland.”
Campbell then pondered how Cox believed the political parties would fare in Scotland next year when a General Election is widely believed to be scheduled.
The Dundee native said: “They [Labour] might do really quite well, we’ve got to get our s**t together but they might do quite well.
“That’s the other thing [Brexit] that’s the big deciding factor going on within independence, 62% of us voted to stay.”
Cox, who delighted fans in his role as self-made media mogul Logan Roy in HBO drama Succession also told of what sealed his political switch from Labour to the SNP.
He told Campbell: “No I never thought I’d be a nationalist, the change came in Iraq.
“There were no weapons of mass destruction, I felt there was hubris flying around and we had been led up the garden path.
“It must be difficult for you because you were part of that.
“I was looking for social democracy and I realised the only place I could see it happening was Scotland.”
The father of four revealed that he still struggles with the word nationalist as he is a person who enjoys seeing the best of the world.
He said: “I still hate the word nationalist, it’s a difficulty that I have, I was reading about the Scottish enlightenment and how we f****d it in a way.”
The proud Scotsman also revealed that he had an admiration for leaders of the Scottish National Party – in particular the recently departed Nicola Sturgeon.
He said: “Alex Salmond as a parliamentarian I admire but he’s been foolish over certain things.
“Nicola has been extraordinary and has worn it [title of First Minister] well.
“We’re in a state where I feel the patriarchy is dying, thank god and we need to move towards a matriarchy and be more caring.
“The gender issue was a complete f**k up really and I believe it has to be attended to but it was the wrong thing, it needed more consideration and thought into that subject.”
However, the twice married actor conceded to Campbell that despite being a “good woman”, Nicola Sturgeon faced a barrage of abuse from the start of her premiership.
Cox said: “I think Nicola Sturgeon was under siege, people used to say the most awful things about her and it was completely unwarranted as far as I’m concerned.
“She’s a good woman, a really good woman. I think it was such a knock in the face and she struggled on but maybe felt they needed a new energy.
“I think we’ve got to keep it up, child poverty and child care, attend to the people’s needs and we do need to be free, I still think so.
“Keir Starmer has said he is against Scottish independence and I’m for Scottish independence, there comes a choice you have to make and it’s not an easy road as the SNP is a broad church.
“I believe in a United Federation, we’re told of the Barnett Formula and why do you complain – well, I don’t want to be holding my plate out for a few crumbs, I want to be myself.”
The actor also revealed that he is set to direct a film set in Scotland about two brothers who own and operate a whisky distillery – but is struggling to find his leading man.
