Whoops, sorry, wrong button.
MacColl changed his name to a SCOTS one (I never once saw him dress up as a bottle of Highland Park) in the same way many people in the theatre did. I see you were promoting the songs of a Robert Zimmerman on the other thread - didn't he change his name to a Welsh one at one time?.
He didn't pretend to be Scots - he was born of Scots parents, grew up in a Scots household surrounded by Scots people singing Scots songs - in my book that makes his cultural influences Scots certainly in his formative years. He always managed to get his songs across to me. The subject of his nationality - along with that of his name are irrelevancies used by those who would prefer to divert the discussion away from his achievments as an artist - like now for instance.
He did incorrectly claim on a few occasions (most of the time he avoided the subject) to have been born in Auchterarder in Perthshire, where his mother came from - but there you go - we all have our little romances at times - I'll bet you go round telling people you're a thinking human being who knows something about singing.
I take it you knew him long enough to know he was a miserable git - I knew him long enough to know he wasn't - I'll show you mine if you'll show me yours.
He never claimed to be working class - he was born into a working class family and he always sided with working class causes (again -I'll show you mine....... etc).
As for him being a total wanker - I'll bow to your greater experience on that one; you obviously have an insider's knowledge of the species.
From your deafening silence on what accent to sing in - I take it you prefer the mid-Atlantic variety - well horn mah swoggle - Ah'd never have guesssed!!!