Connery Furious Over Oil Profit Collusion

01st Feb 2006

SIR SEAN CONNERY is caught up in a political row, centred on reports his native Scotland was deliberately conned out of oil profits.

The Hollywood star called for an inquiry into claims the 1970s British Labour government steered Scots away from billions of pounds in oil profits - because they feared it would lead to independence.

A treasury official warned the government that Scottish control of North Sea Oil could shatter Britain's economy.

In a secret document obtained by Scotland's Daily Record newspaper, the unnamed official wrote, "The Scots have really got us over a barrel here."

Connery is disgusted at what he calls "the collusion" which favoured England over Scotland.

He says, "This is genuine evidence of what I consider a collusion by people who are not in a position to make that decision.

"The depth of it, the cynicism of it, is appalling. More than an apology is required. There should be a genuine inquiry and it should be exposed."