Jim Sillars urges Labour voters to back Yes vote

On Wednesday 2nd July, a packed Greenhills hall heard Jim Sillars, former Labour MP and SNP Deputy Leader back a Yes vote in the independence referendum, followed by a Labour vote in the first elections to an independent Scottish Parliament in 2016.

Sillars, speaking in East Kilbride for the first time since the death of his wife Margo MacDonald, told the meeting that she had been instrumental in getting him back on the campaign trail.

He announced that, although currently an SNP member, he would be backing Labour to form the first government of an independent Scotland in 2016.

The meeting, which was organised by Yes East Kilbride, also heard from East Kilbride MSP, Linda Fabiani, and Allan Grogan, founder of Labour for Independence, the group campaigning for a Yes vote within the Labour Party.

In a fiery speech, Sillars condemned successive UK governments for halting oil exploration off Scotland’s west coast because of the presence of Trident nuclear submarines.

Sillars called for governments in an independent Scotland to learn from Norway’s management of its oil reserves and keep control of exploration and extraction in public ownership.

Linda Fabiani reminded the meeting that Scots were powerless to stop Scottish soldiers being sent to an illegal war in Iraq and looked forward to the day Scotland had the power to say ‘Not in my name’ and make it come true.

Allan Grogan said that only under independence will Scots get a Labour government working for Scotland.

Commenting after the event, Jim Sillars said:

“This event is part of the biggest discussion Scotland has ever seen.

“Scots will go to the polls on the 18th of September better educated politically than ever before. And I am convinced Yes will win!”

Convenor of Yes East Kilbride Paul McCartney added:

“As we saw here tonight, the Yes campaign is increasingly drawing support from right across the political spectrum.

“Our next public meeting will hear from Tommy Sheppard, previously a senior figure in Scottish Labour, Jeane Freeman, adviser to Jack McConnell as First Minister, and Andy Myles, former Chief Executive of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

“Our message is clear; this referendum is about much more than the SNP. Only a Yes vote puts Scotland’s future in Scotland’s hands.”

A lot more 'left' to be said

With polls of voting intentions in the independence referendum showing Yes and No neck and neck, Yes East Kilbride has announced two meetings to let Labour voters who are still undecided find out what a Yes vote would mean to them.

On 27 June, a meeting entitled ‘The progressive case for Yes’ will be held at the Murray Owen Centre from 7.30pm. Speakers include Carol Fox of Women for Independence, a former Labour parliamentary candidate. Carol will be joined by her brother, Colin, co-spokesperson of the Scottish Socialist Party and a former MSP.

Pat Kane; musician, writer, activist and former rector of Glasgow University will argue that independence offers the chance to make Scotland a more equal society.

The second event ‘Can you be Labour and Yes?’ will be held on 2 July at Greenhills Community Hall.

This event will feature Jim Sillars; former Labour MP and SNP Deputy Leader, who recently withdrew from a meeting in the town due to the death of his wife, Margo MacDonald MSP, who had close connections with the town.

Joining Jim on the panel will be Allan Grogan, founder of Labour for Independence, and Sandra Webster of Women for Independence, who will argue that only a Yes vote gives Scotland the power to build a fairer, as well as a more prosperous society.

Commenting, Chair of Yes East Kilbride Paul McCartney said:

"We have some fantastic events over the next few weeks, and we encourage all undecided voters, especially those who traditionally back the Labour Party, to come out and hear the progressive case for Yes.

"At our stalls and on the doorsteps, we find more and more people moving to Yes, especially among traditional Labour voters who are unconvinced of the case for No.

“The last Better Together event in East Kilbride featured a Tory Cabinet Minister and was moved at the last minute to avoid facing the people of the town. By contrast, Yes East Kilbride events are open and welcoming.

"Panicked by the growing support for a Yes vote, the three pro-UK parties are now offering more powers to the Scottish Parliament, if there is a No vote. The fact is that only a Yes vote lets us harness Scotland’s enormous wealth to deliver a fairer society. It is an opportunity we must take with both hands.”

Socialist Case for Yes Heard in East Kilbride

Yes East Kilbride hosted a packed public meeting on Friday 11th April, with speakers explaining the socialist and trade union case for an independent Scotland.

Chaired by Yes East Kilbride's Paul McCartney, the audience heard from John Davidson; Vice-President of East Kilbride PCS Branch, Frances Curran; former SSP MSP, and Elaine C. Smith; actress, entertainer, and Convenor of the Scottish Independence Convention.

Over 100 people attended the event.

Elaine C. Smith took the opportunity to pay tribute to Margo MacDonald

Elaine said:

"Margo's dedication is recognised as having made a major contribution to getting us to where we are today."


"Her presence in the campaign will be sadly missed, but we owe it to her to redouble our efforts and complete a journey in which she played such a large part."

Frances Curran and Elaine C Smith

Chair of Yes East Kilbride, Paul McCartney said:

“It was great to host such a well-attended event, with many new faces eager to find out more information in the run up to the referendum.

“All speakers made fantastic points, and it was clear the audience enjoyed the event. There were engaging questions and lively debate, which was exactly what we wanted.

“The point was well made that we don't want the absurdity of nuclear weapons, food banks, or a repeat of the Iraq war.

"On 18th September, for the first time in our history, the people of Scotland will be truly sovereign and can decide who is best placed to make the decisions that affect their community.

“As the polls narrow, and as momentum grows towards a Yes vote, there is all to play for.

"We will continue to put our positive message to East Kilbride at similar events over the coming months."

Notes: photos by Craig Maclean

Margo MacDonald - an appreciation from East Kilbride

Yes campaigners in East Kilbride were saddened to hear of the death of Margo MacDonald, Independent MSP, and veteran promoter of Scottish independence.

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