MARTIN Compston has hit back at Scottish Tories after facing criticism for backing the SNP and independence.

The Line of Duty Star posted a defiant message illustrated with an unwanted Conservative campaign leaflet as he rebuked those who attacked him for stating his political opinions.

The actor was one of several high-profile figures to publicly support the SNP and a Yes vote over the weekend.

Coinciding with the finale of his hit BBC police drama, Compston issued a message urging voters to back Nicola Sturgeon’s party with both votes in this week’s election.

He also said Scots must “be in control of our own destiny”.

Those comments have sparked a backlash among Tories, with Compston targeted online. Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser commented: "Another ‘celeb’ who doesn’t live here telling us how to vote."

The Line of Duty star posted a response on Twitter with a picture of a Tory campaign flyer sent to his home in Greenock. 

He wrote: “I see Scottish tory twitter and their bots enraged an actor would express an opinion.

“Apparently it isn’t valid either as they claim I don’t live here.

“In that case could you do me, the postman and the environment a favour and stop sending me literature asking for my vote.”

READ MORE: Line of Duty star Martin Compston backs the SNP ahead of Holyrood election

At the SNP event over the weekend, Compston was joined by Alan Cumming, Brian Cox, Val McDermid and Stuart Braithwaite in endorsing the party.

He said: “Everyone is allowed an opinion. Whether that be politicians down south or some lovely incredible entertainers who have moved abroad for whatever reason.

"Myself, I’ve lived across the world. That’s the beauty of free speech. Everyone is allowed an opinion. But what matters is votes.

"And it’s the people who live here, work here, and who vote here, whose gonna make the difference.”

The Greenock-born Scots star has long been in favour of Scottish independence and he made the case for indyref2.

He continued: “Let’s be honest about this stuff, if we had a functioning Westminster that really cared about every region of the UK. That didn’t take parts of the UK out of Europe against its will.

“And the decisions, the big decisions, whether it be Scotland’s future relationship with Europe, whether it be nuclear weapons on the Clyde, are best taken by the people who live here.

“And we can’t forever live in this perennial situation, where it’s just Tory government after Tory government at Westminster, who don’t care about Scotland.

“They just leave us in these miserable situations, which make us feel utterly powerless to deal with."

He concluded: “We have to be in control of our own destiny. And the only way to do that is through an SNP or an independence majority at the Scottish Parliament. And then we take it from there.”