MSP in prison for Trident protest

A Member of the Scottish Parliament was taken into police custody just before midnight on Sunday night for his part in an anti-nuclear demonstration at the Faslane base in August. Tommy Sheridan the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party and a list MSP for Glasgow handed himself in at Dumbarton Police Station and is now in Greenock prison.

He had been given a £250 fine for sitting down at the gates of the Trident base. 184 others were also arrested during the protest on 14 February. As Mr Sheridan had not paid the fine he was sentenced to 14 days in prison. However, as is normal, he is expected to only serve part of the sentence and to be released on Friday.

Mr Sheridan said:

"It does not surprise me that in the season of goodwill to all men I am being sent to prison after standing up for a nuclear-freee Scotland and a peaceful world."

His wife Gail said:

"I will miss him this week as it builds up to Christmas but I am extremely proud of him as nuclear disarmament is such an important issue."

Brian Quail, Joint Secretary of Scottish CND said:

"Scottish CND wholeheartedly supports Tommy's couregeous stand in upholding international law and calls on others to take the same stance. The British state must stop acting as if it were above the law by deploying weapons of mass destruction, the very weapons it would condemn others from aquiring"

A similar protest is being organised for next year
- come along and join in the Big Blockade on 12 February.