Revealed: Famous Scots helping to bankroll campaign against Donald Trump re-election

Succession star Brian Cox has given several thousands of pounds to Democratic campaigns. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty

They are some of the biggest Scottish stars in the US, famed for their starring roles in the worlds of film, television, and literature.

Now, Scotland on Sunday can reveal four prominent Scots living stateside are also playing supporting roles in the upcoming US elections, having made swaths of donations to Democratic causes to help prevent Donald Trump from securing a second term in the White House.

Brian Cox, the Golden Globe and Emmy-award winning actor, and a vocal critic of the US president, has made dozens of donations since the turn of the year, while his fellow actor, Alan Cumming, has given a four-figure sum to a Democratic committee.

Kevin McKidd, who shot to fame in Trainspotting before carving out a successful television career in the US, has also made a flurry of donations to Joe Biden’s campaign in recent months.

Actor Alan Cumming is among the famous Scots to give to Democratic causes. Picture: Nick Agro/AFP/Getty

The Trainspotting connection does not end there, however. The writer, Irvine Welsh, a long-time resident of the US, has also helped bankroll Democratic causes.

While US election finance law prohibits foreign nationals living in the country from making political donations, the Scots in question are able to contribute thanks to the fact they hold US citizenship, dual nationality, or are Green Card holders. The latter status grants individuals permanent residency rights in the US, and allows them to make political donations, despite the fact they cannot cast a vote.

Cox, who has enjoyed critical acclaim for his portrayal of the fictional Scottish American media magnate, Logan Roy, in the hit series, Succession, has variously described Trump as a “buffoon,” a “pink Pinocchio,” “two dimensional,” and “about as deep as a blackhead.”

But the Dundee-born star, who has dual citizenship, is also putting his money where his mouth is, and has become a prolific donor to an array of Democratic campaigns.

Trainspotting star Kevin McKidd has given a flurry of donations to Joe Biden's campaign in recent weeks. Picture: Valerie Macon/AFP/Getty

The 74-year-old, who is also a high-profile supporter of Scottish independence, has made 33 donations worth $586 (£452) in 2020 to date, with the overwhelming majority of his money going towards progressive causes instead of the Joe Biden campaign directly.

Records maintained by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), the Washington DC-based regulatory agency tasked with enforcing campaign finance law, show that since March 2016, Cox has made 256 donations worth a total of $5,387 (£4,155)

The recipients include the Congressional Black Caucus and End Citizens United, which works to secure campaign finance law reform Other donations went to powerful fundraising committees devoted to Hispanic causes and equality issues.

Cox, who has properties in Brooklyn and upstate New York, as well as Primrose Hill in London, has also given to the campaign of Jamie Harrison, a Democrat looking to unseat the Republican senator Lindsey Graham in South Carolina.

Author Irvine Welsh has also given to Democratic committees. Picture: Anthony Wallace/Getty

All of Cox’s contributions have been made via Act Blue, an online fundraising facility which allows donors to give money to various Democratic efforts.

In June, another notable Scottish independence supporter, Alan Cumming, gave three donations totalling $1,500 to the campaign of Suraj Patel, a Democrat who was running for the US Congress, but later conceded defeat.

Cumming, who also lives in New York and has dual UK and US citizenship, is a long-term supporter of the Democrats. FEC records show he donated around $20,000 (£15,460