Scottish independence: Salmond & Sillars team up

ALEX SALMOND and Jim Sillars yesterday insisted they had set their differences aside as the former deputy leader of the SNP’s “Margo Mobile” campaign bus teamed up with Yes Scotland at an event in Edinburgh.

First Minister Alex Salmond and former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars. Picture: Getty

Mr Sillars, whose political rift with Mr Salmond is believed to have begun more than 20 years ago, said that he and Mr Salmond remained “great personal friends”, as his white battle bus in memory of his late MSP wife Margo MacDonald, made up the focal point of a Yes campaign rally at the city’s Piershill Square, where Mr Salmond and deputy Nicola Sturgeon met supporters.

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The trio posed together for photographs as the campaign heads towards its final week.

The pair have recently clashed when Mr Sillars described Salmond’s post-independence currency plans as “stupidity on stilts”.

“Alex has been a friend of mine and Margo’s for many years and he remains a friend,” Mr Sillars said. “All of us should acknowledge what he’s done to bring the referendum and conduct it in the manner he has done.”

“I think both of us are right in our own way and both of us have contributed to where we are today - which is heading for the most historic victory for the Scottish nation.”

Mr Salmond added: “Jim and I have known each other for many years, this is part of the campaign and Jim has done a fantastic job around Scotland with the Margo bus.”

Unionist politicians dismissed claims of a truce between the two.

“Jim Sillars went further than Dennis Canavan, Patrick Harvie, the Governor of the Bank of England and the independent experts when he described Alex Salmond’s discredited currency plans as ‘stupidity on stilts’,” said Anas Sarwar, Deputy Leader of Scottish Labour.

“Alex Salmond and Jim Sillars want people to take this risk without giving any certainty over something as basic as currency. The people of Scotland can choose a better, faster and safer change by voting No.”