The 'Lost' Member of Monty Python Has a Message for Scotland

Eddie Izzard is a lot of things: an actor, comedian, the lost member of Monty Python (so-called by John Cleese) and a transvestite who has described himself as a "male lesbian" (link contains strong language).

He's also British — and he doesn't want Scotland to leave the U.K.

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 05: Actor Eddie Izzard attends The Creative Coalition's Spotlight Initiative awards dinner during the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival at Trump International Hotel & Tower on September 5, 2014 in Toronto, Canada. Jonathan Leibson/Getty Images

Izzard penned a letter, published by CNN Sunday morning, pledging support for the "Let's Stay Together" campaign and begging the Scottish to vote "no" on independence.

In stereotypical British fashion, he was quite polite about his request, noting that the Scots can totally leave if they want to, he'd just rather they didn't.

From Izzard's letter:

In so many places I travel to in the world, people are struggling to find a way of working together, but we've developed this character and human skill over three centuries in our United Kingdom: It is a precious thing and worth standing up for.

With just days to go, on September 18, Scotland will vote on whether it wants to stay in the United Kingdom family or leave to form a separate country.

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The UK would feel a deep sense of loss if Scotland left Great Britain.

You could ask, why should an English person have any views on this?

Well as a member of the United Kingdom, I feel I have the viewpoint of a fellow UK family member. Also, I have performed in most major towns and cities across Scotland and I ran eight marathons through Scotland holding the Saltire, the flag of Scotland.

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Of course, I fundamentally believe in the right of those in Scotland to determine their own future and will fully respect the decision, whichever way the vote goes.

But it's also true that everyone else in the UK will also find big changes in their lives, and I think it's important that we think about our combined goals and future.

To my thinking, Scotland can have the best of both worlds: It can have its own parliament, its own strong voice and its own cultural identity. And at the same time it can also have the strength, the security and the stability of being within the UK.

At the 2012 Olympics, the whole of the Great Britain team was fighting so hard to win medals and had such a positive spirit. It was beautiful. If Scotland leaves, we'll never have that again.

There are very strong economic reasons for staying together, but there is something even deeper that binds England and Scotland.

It's like a beautiful and long-lasting relationship. We've overcome a lot to get where we are, we do care about each other despite our tiffs, and I believe the future is much better with us working together.

Read Izzard's entire letter at CNN here.

Scots will turn out Thursday to vote on whether to sever the centuries-old bond that has connected them to England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and as the Scottish independence vote approaches, those favoring a breakup have taken the lead in polling.

If Scotland leaves, a lot would change for the U.K., including, perhaps, the iconic British flag, the Union Jack.

The English, Scottish and Northern Irish national flags that, combined, comprise the Union Jack. (Image via Shutterstock)

Since the Union Jack owes its blue to the Scottish national flag, many Britons favor a redesign of their flag if Scotland exits the union.

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