Many obituaries are being published of Margo, who has had a tremendous impact on Scottish politics since her election to Westminster for the SNP at a by-election held in the autumn of 1973 in Glasgow’s Govan constituency. Although Margo was not re-elected in the February 1974 general election, from then on she was an established figure in Scottish political life.
What many of the obituaries will miss out is Margo's earlier political life, and her connection to East Kilbride.
Having fought the 1970 election for the SNP in Paisley, Margo was selected to fight the next election for East Kilbride, the town in which her family had settled when Margo was already in her late teens and which already had a large SNP presence.
Bill Arthur, former SNP Councillor for Long Calderwood ward on East Kilbride District Council, knew Margo and her family well. He attended Duncanrig Secondary with Margo's sister, Anne Aitken.
Bill recalls Margo's time as the Westminster candidate for East Kilbride.
"Having been a PE teacher, Margo was a hugely energetic candidate. She had me driving her all over East Kilbride to a wide variety of events, from attending the British Legion to standing outside Rolls Royce giving an open-air speech at lunchtime.
"She had a tremendous personality, very charismatic, and with a huge interest in people.
"Margo was a very fair-minded person, so when the party asked her to take on the job as candidate for the Govan by-election, not seen as an easy task, she agreed to do it, despite my protestations.
"She was a great character and will be sadly missed."
 |
| Margo greets Gordon Murray as SNP candidate for East Kilbride as George Reid looks on |
Long-standing independence supporter, Lottie Fulton, now living in Calderwood, also remembers Margo’s time as candidate in East Kilbride and working in her campaign in a later contest in Hamilton.
Lottie, who then lived in the Murray, remembers Margo making regular visits back to East Kilbride.
"I was working as a Home Help at the time, and I used to meet Margo when she came to East Kilbride to visit her mother. Conveniently, she could also get her hair done by the hairdresser who came to look after her mother’s hair at her home.
“Margo was a great person to be around; she was great fun and a very charismatic character. She drew people to her, and they put in an extra effort because of that.
"Scotland has lost a great Member of Parliament, and a great ambassador."
Margo's husband, Jim Sillars, the former Labour and SNP MSP, was scheduled to speak at a Yes campaign rally in Calderwood hall on Friday 11 April.
Paul McCartney, Chair of Yes East Kilbride said:
"Our thoughts are with Jim Sillars and Margo's family at this difficult time.
"However, despite Jim's withdrawal, the Calderwood meeting will go ahead, pursuing the cause that meant so much to Margo throughout a political career that blossomed right here in East Kilbride."
Photograph courtesy of the Scottish Political Archive
No comments:
Post a Comment