MSPs and clergy to attend Faslane Blockade

Several Members of the Scottish Parliament are expected to take part in a protest at Faslane from Monday 11th to Wednesday 13th. They include Lloyd Quinan (SNP) and Tommy Sheridan (Scottish Socialist Party) both of whom have been arrested during previous sit down protests at the base. Labour MSP John McAllion is also expected to attend to show his support.

A number of ministers in the Church of Scotland and other demoninations have also indicated that they will take part. One of them, Rev David McLachlan, a parish minister from Elderslie, has not paid a fixed penalty from a previous demonstration. He said: "I was offered a deal where if I paid a £50 fine, the case would be dropped and I would not have a criminal record but I was not prepared to accept I had been guilty of a breach of the peace. I did not pay that fine - as I felt it would have been accepting a guilt I did not feel - and I am not prepared to pay a fine in future ... I don’t fancy going to prison but ultimately, if that is what it takes to highlight the evil of nuclear weapons, then that is what it takes. As human beings, we have a duty to oppose things that are evil. To threaten other people with annihilation is a nonsense and is not something Jesus Christ would have condoned."

Hundreds of acitivists are expected to arrive for the three days of direct action, from 11th to 13th February, which has been organised by Trident Ploughshares, Scottish CND and British CND. They are coming from all over the UK and from Ireland, Belgium and Sweden.