{"product_id":"a-difference-of-opinion","title":"A Difference of Opinion","description":"\u003c!-- Hook --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA Difference of Opinion—My Political Journey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!-- Tagline --\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJim Sillars on a lifetime of conviction politics, from Labour to the SNP and beyond\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Access Your Content --\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"border: 2px solid #ddd; padding: 16px; border-radius: 6px; background: #f9f9f9; margin-bottom: 20px;\"\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003eAccess Your Content in Seconds\u003c\/p\u003e\n  \u003col style=\"margin-left: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px;\"\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eComplete your purchase on our store.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e (free).\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eLog in using the same email from checkout.\u003c\/li\u003e\n    \u003cli\u003eYour ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003c\/ol\u003e\n  \u003cp style=\"font-size: 14px; color: #555;\"\u003eAll content is securely delivered through our app and not offered as a Shopify download.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJim Sillars, among the last of his generation's working-class politicians, has had a prominent role in Scottish public life for more than six decades, during which he moved from being a Unionist Labour MP to becoming deputy leader of the SNP and now a sharp critic of the party's cult of personality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn this candid memoir, he records a controversial political life from local councillor to Westminster MP, during which he had dealings with many prominent politicians of the day. But he also reflects on what moulded him in his early years, the added influences of his service in the Royal Navy, his time in Hong Kong, his trade union activity and his non-political business engagements in the Middle East and Asia.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eBringing the book up to date to address contemporary issues, he offers views on Brexit, Russia, the Middle East, climate change, the Alex Salmond trial and the consequences of the 2021 Holyrood election.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe and Margo MacDonald, to whom he was married for thirty-three years, were a formidable political partnership until her death in 2014. He pays a heartfelt tribute to her in this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Why You'll Love This Ebook --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy You'll Love This Ebook\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eDiscover the inside story of Scotland's independence movement\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eExperience politics from a man never afraid to break ranks\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eExplore decades of Scottish political history from a unique vantage point\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eRead another celebrated title from Birlinn Ltd - Independent Scottish Publisher\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Reviews --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eReviews\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'His take on independence remains original and unique — told with real insight from a man with a ringside seat'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eBernard Ponsonby, Special Correspondent, STV\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'Required reading for anyone who wants to understand the strange death of Labour in Scotland'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eMichael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland 1995–97\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'An unusually interesting book about Scottish politics, with wider perspectives — offers a basis for civilised, rational debate on Scotland's constitutional future'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eStornoway Gazette\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e'A man of outstanding ability — a profound and original thinker'\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eDaily Mail\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- About the Author --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\nJim Sillars was born and brought up in Ayr. After a succession of early jobs, he joined the Royal Navy and was drafted to Hong Kong. Leaving the Navy he went into the Fire Brigade, becoming active in trade unionism and the Labour Party. Following years serving as a Labour MP in Westminster he split with Labour Party and formed the Scottish Labour Party before joining the SNP. He was elected the SNP MP for Govan in 1988. In his later career he became Assistant to the Secretary General of the Arab-British Chamber of Commerce and also served six years on the board of Scottish Enterprise. He lives in Edinburgh.\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- Publication Details --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003ePublication Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e Birlinn Ltd\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e 02 September 2021\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrint Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 328 pages (Ebook edition)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eISBN (Ebook):\u003c\/strong\u003e 9781788853033\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ebook\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003chr\u003e\n\n\u003c!-- FAQ --\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I access my ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDownload \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/pages\/the-grey-hill-app\" target=\"_blank\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Grey Hill App\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e and log in using the same email you used at checkout. Your ebook will appear instantly in your library.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I read it online?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can also access your purchases via our online reader at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reader.thegreyhill.com\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ereader.thegreyhill.com\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eI can't see my ebook — what should I do?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTap the refresh button in the app or online reader. If it still doesn't appear, ensure you're logged in with the same email used at checkout. If issues continue, contact us and we'll help right away.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eCan I gift this ebook?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes — you can purchase a Grey Hill Gift Card here: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/the-grey-hill-gift-card\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eBuy a Gift Card\u003c\/a\u003e. The recipient can redeem it on our store, and the ebook will appear in The Grey Hill App.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Birlinn Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57280094536053,"sku":"9781788853033","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0921\/5662\/5269\/files\/9781788853033.jpg?v=1781114079","url":"https:\/\/thegreyhill.com\/products\/a-difference-of-opinion","provider":"The Grey Hill","version":"1.0","type":"link"}