LAND reform campaigner Andy Wightman has thrown his weight behind a Yes vote after claiming the UK is "corrupt".

The writer and campaigner - who is a member of the independence-supporting Green Party - said he believed "the era of the nation state" was over, and that he favoured a confederal system, with powers devolved to local communities.

But he added: "But confederalism is not on the ballot paper. The choice is between independence and the status quo.

"It has become clear to me that the means by which to build a society within which economic and gender inequality can be reduced, where citizens can be empowered, and accountable, efficient and democratic organs of governance created is by voting Yes.

"Such ambitions are not guaranteed by voting Yes. But it is more likely that they can be advanced with the powers of independence than by sticking with the corrupted state that calls itself the UK."

The author of the influential Who Owns Scotland website added: "The threadbare democracy that passes for the UK Parliament is now in terminal decline - in hock to the hopes, fears, aspirations and prejudices of small numbers of voters in marginal constituencies."

Last year, Mr Wightman lent his backing to a major report that said Scotland could be richer, fairer, more progressive nation without having to increase income tax rates.

The report by the Common Weal think tank, said the state could collect one-third more income tax and transform public services if politicians only had the courage to fix the current system.

Then the land reform campaigner had said: "The Common Weal creatively rejects neo-liberalism whilst at the same time embracing enterprise, self-government and the common good. It is a concept for the times we live in."