A left-winger who has never been afraid to speak his mind

Published on Tuesday 20 December 2011 00:00

For many years, Jim Sillars has been regarded as the darling of the SNP’s fundamentalist wing. He was the unofficial voice of those within the party who argued against devolution on the basis that the halfway house offered by a parliament with incomplete powers would thwart independence.

However, he was also the author of a highly influential pamphlet that led to the adoption in 1988 of the SNP’s policy of “Independence in Europe”. Mr Sillars argued an independent Scotland within the EU would not be a closed and isolationist nation – a radical departure from the views held by many more Eurosecptic SNP members.

The Ayrshire-born politician began his working life on the railways, then joining the Royal Navy, before becoming a fireman. As a fireman, he became more active politically, through the Fire Brigades Union and later with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

He was elected at a by-election in 1970 as MP for South Ayrshire, representing Labour, but in 1976 he led a breakaway Scottish Labour Party (SLP). Mr Sillars became well known as an articulate left-winger, strongly in favour of a devolved Scottish Assembly.

But he failed to hold his seat at the 1979 general election – all three SLP candidates were defeated. Only Mr Sillars came remotely close to winning, and it was this failure to secure a meaningful share of the vote that prompted the decision to disband the party.

After the collapse of the SLP in the early 1980s, he joined the SNP, where he campaigned for non-payment of Margaret Thatcher’s controversial poll tax, as well as the policy of independence within Europe.

During this time, he started talking in terms of direct action to bring prominence to the Scottish independence cause, stating that “we must be prepared to hear the sound of cell doors slamming behind us if we are prepared to win independence”.

But he is arguably best known for the Glasgow Govan by-election victory in 1988, when he unseated Labour in what was a previously safe seat for the party.

He was later to rise to deputy leader of the SNP but lost his seat in the 1992 general election.

In 1992, Mr Sillars made his famous comment that the Scots were “90-minute patriots” (a reference to the length of football matches).

For a time, he was barely on speaking terms with Alex Salmond and in recent years he has been one of the few well-known SNP figures who has openly criticised the party leadership.

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The West Awake

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 06:58 PM

The only place Sillars is regarded as the darling of anything is this paper! They can't get enough of his anti-SNP ramblings.

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6

ItsTime

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 05:15 PM

From his comfortable home in the run-down Grange area of Edinburgh the red-hot socialist and nationalist, Jim Sillars said - continued on page 784.

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5

allymax

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 04:17 PM

"A left-winger who has never been afraid to speak his mind'; nah, Jim coolnae match today's Left-wingers; what Jim wid ca' a left-winger is actually Centre-right noo. Jim, here's whit a' said on the ither article o' you.......................................................................... Jim Sillars said, "[the Nationalists move towards a more enthusiastically pro-EU position in the late 1980s – has written in The Scotsman today that the issue is a] “striking area of SNP weakness”. +++++++++++++++++Nah, what a load of bollloks Jim. You don't understand the first thing about maneuvering in today's E.U.; it's almost compulsory today in this 21st century to have the E.U. as a buttress against 'foreign' invaders. We must always remember the E.U. is the antidote to Westminster's conniving. Moreover Jim, you are wrong again with the absolute criticism the GB Prime Minister David Cameron deserves for vetoing the treaty; Westminster never, NEVER considers anyone but only the City of London. Scotland's First Minister Alex' Salmond was absolutely right to criticise David Cameron; in-fact, even David Cameron's Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg criticised him; what do you say to that Jim ? ++++++++++++++++++Here's the crux Jim; you said, "And he [Jim], issued a stark warning that there was “not a cat’s chance in hell” of the SNP winning an independence referendum if the party continued with its “present policy of being a lap dog to the German-French-European Commission ruling triumvirate in Brussels”.He [Jim], claimed EU proposals for a “transfer” of “core sovereignty” from the treaty backed by the other 26 EU nations would weaken the position of an independent Scotland, an issue on which he said Mr Salmond was “blithely unaware”. ++++++++++++++++++++First-of-all Jim, Scotland will win its independence referendum; that's God-given. Next, what Scotland does to sustain its independence is crucial to keep the Westminster wolf at bay; the E.U. may well be a 'black-hole', but that black-hole provides a certain protection for 'vulnerable' new states against 'prowling lions' !....................................Last, but not least Jim, you said, "[accused the First Minister of being a] “Euro- fanatic in full flight”, [in what will widely be viewed as the strongest attack on him from within his own party’s ranks since his re-election in May]". ++++++++++++++Sorry Jim, again, what a load of bollloks. If that's what you call 'an attack', then you haven't a clue as to what Westminster are capable of. Awa' back tae read yer papers, n' sit yersel doon wi yer pipe n' slippers man; there's a guid fella.

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proletarian

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 03:34 PM

"He was the unofficial voice of those within the party who argued against devolution on the basis that the halfway house offered by a parliament with incomplete powers would thwart independence." How in the name of Willie MacRae could Scots be expected to preparing to be voting on an independence referendum just now "without" the people having had their feelings made known to the watching world by putting a pro independence party into government in Scotland with an overwhelming majority against the restrictions of an electoral system designed to impede that very thing happening? Everyone seen the actions of the Westminster parties between 2007 - 2011, they banded together at every turn to prevent the people of Scotland having their say on finally putting a government into Holyrood, a 'real' government that works for the people of Scotland as opposed to a 'management' minding the place and it's assets for the City of London? Has this paper hit 'Daily Record levels' yet? How do you expect to survive in an independent Scotland with print like the current? Even Magnus Gardham's columns weren't as bad as this. Try a bit harder if you want to "shock the country" by finding an "assured Scot" with a bit more credibility than Jim 'the weatherman' Sillars.

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3

Kobi

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 01:47 PM

The SNP's Rudolf Hess. That is why the SNP pavlovs hate him.

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2

well informed

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 08:45 AM

"For a time, he was barely on speaking terms with Alex Salmond and in recent years he has been one of the few well-known SNP figures who has openly criticised the party leadership." --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Sillars is NOT an SNP figure! which is why he is bitter and twisted towards them! But then the Hootsmon has never allowed facts to get in the way of their party political lies before.

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1

gus1940

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 07:43 AM

Agent Provocateur

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