Scottish actor Martin Compston, who is currently filming with Scottish Hollywood star James McAvoy and shot to fame as a 17-year-old starring in Sweet Sixteen, has given his backing to votes for 16 and 17-year-olds at the referendum in 2014.

And Larry Flanagan, who has been selected to be the new General Secretary of the EIS, also voiced his support for teenagers to be allowed their say on Scotland’s future.

Martin Compston said:

“I like a huge number of teenagers was paying tax by the age of 17, if you are allowed to contribute to the country's coffers you should be able to have a say of who is in charge of spending it, if you are allowed to join the army and fight you should have right to have a say in who decides to send you there.

“The stance of Labour and the Lib Dems have taken on the right of 16 and 17 years to have a say in the future of their country is disgraceful.

“Having previously backed that right when its suited their own agenda on AV to now not support it fearing youngsters would back independence is everything that's wrong in politics.

“Our country's future are these young adults, they should have the right to help decide which way we go forward."

And the screen star, who is currently working on the filming of the big screen adaptation of Irvine Welsh's book Filth, backs the Yes campaign for the referendum in 2014.

He added:

“For me Scottish independence is about democracy and a country taking care of its own affairs and never finding ourselves in the situation we have now of being ruled by a party who have absolutely no presence or mandate in Scotland.”

And writing in the Times Educational Supplement, Larry Flanagan, said:

“The case for allowing these young adults a say in their country’s future seems to me to be irrefutable.”

Humza Yousaf, the SNP’s youngest MSP, said:

“These comments from Martin Compston and Larry Flanagan show support is growing for 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland to have their say over our country’s future.

“The SNP supports votes at 16 in all elections and where we have the power over Health Board Elections and even elections to the Crofting Commission we have ensured our young people have a say.

“With Scotland’s largest education trade union and a high-profile Scottish actor adding to the support from the NUS and Scottish Youth Parliament, the anti-independence parties must reconsider their position.

“Why is it that Labour MPs like their deputy leader Anas Sarwar backed votes at 16 in the AV referendum but want to withhold that right from young Scots in the independence referendum?

“Young people of this age should be given the right to have their say on Scotland’s future.”