Martin Compston
Scottish actor who publicly endorsed the SNP during the 2026 Holyrood election campaign.
Last refreshed: 26 April 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Does a celebrity anti-Farage endorsement move votes in a Holyrood campaign, or merely generate noise?
Timeline for Martin Compston
Urged voters on 23 April to back SNP to keep Farage out of Scotland
UK Local Elections 2026: Sarwar wins NHS round; Compston backs SNP- Who did Martin Compston endorse in the 2026 Scottish election?
- Martin Compston endorsed the SNP in the 2026 Holyrood election, appearing in a social media video arguing against voting for Reform UK.Source: Lowdown
- What is Martin Compston famous for?
- Compston is best known for playing DS Steve Arnott in the BBC anti-corruption drama Line of Duty, which ran from 2012 to 2021. He made his acting debut in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen (2002) after playing football for Greenock Morton.Source: Wikipedia
- Why did Martin Compston endorse the SNP in 2026?
- Compston appeared in an SNP video on 23 April 2026 urging voters to back the party to keep Nigel Farage's Reform UK out of Scotland ahead of the 7 May Holyrood election.Source: Lowdown
- Has Martin Compston supported Scottish independence before?
- Yes. Compston has previously spoken publicly about his support for Scottish independence and the SNP. His 2026 endorsement is consistent with earlier political statements.Source: Wikipedia
Background
Martin Compston is a Scottish actor best known for playing DS Steve Arnott in the BBC anti-corruption drama Line of Duty, which ran from 2012 to 2021 and moved from BBC Two to BBC One at series four. Born in Greenock on 8 May 1984, Compston played junior football for Greenock Morton before being cast without any acting experience in Ken Loach's Sweet Sixteen (2002), winning Most Promising Newcomer at the British Independent Film Awards that year.
On 23 April 2026, Compston appeared in a social media video produced by the SNP urging Scots to vote for the party ahead of the 7 May Holyrood election, arguing against letting Nigel Farage's Reform UK gain influence in Scotland. The endorsement was timed to coincide with the final weeks of the campaign, when the SNP was emphasising its majority projection and framing a vote for any other party as risking a Reform foothold.
Compston, a supporter of Scottish independence, has previously spoken about his political views. His endorsement attracted significant press coverage partly because celebrity interventions are comparatively rare in Holyrood elections, and partly because the anti-Farage framing directly addressed the SNP's tactical argument for consolidating the pro-independence vote rather than splitting it across smaller parties.
