Sillars issues warning to first minister

Former SNP deputy leader Jim Sillars has accused the first minister of leaving the Scottish independence movement “stranded” and at risk of splintering.

With a new Alliance for Independence being set up in a bid to win regional list seats in next year’s Holyrood election, Mr Sillars also urged Nicola Sturgeon to consider the role such a group could play.

The veteran politician said Ms Sturgeon should “exercise some wisdom” and consider the situation from the perspective of the broader independence movement, rather than just from a party political

“She has to take off the party hat and put on the movement one”

stance. He made the plea after it emerged former SNP MSP Dave Thompson is to quit the party for the Alliance for Independence – which will reportedly run under the slogan “Max the Yes” in May’s ballot.

In a letter to The Herald newspaper, Mr Sillars argued Ms Sturgeon has “led the independence movement up the political hill and left it stranded there”, and now faces the “possible consequences of it splintering as it comes down it”.

He added: “She now has to exercise some wisdom, take off the party hat and put on the movement one.”

Mr Sillars insisted the “strategic objective” in the Holyrood ballot should be to “amass an overwhelming majority of MSPs committed beyond all doubt to claiming a mandate for another referendum, a mandate the size of which any UK government would find difficult to refuse”.

The former Labour MP argued there is a “logic in the case for the SNP not standing on the list”.