Press Releases & Updates 2001

BBC Online

Politicians arrested at nuclear protest

Monday, 12 February, 2001

Politicians and church ministers were among 379 people arrested during a protest at the home of Britain’s Trident nuclear submarine fleet. Labour MP George Galloway, Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan and Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas were arrested during the demonstration at Faslane.

Mr Galloway, the MP for Glasgow Kelvin and Scottish Socialist Party Leader and Glasgow MSP Mr Sheridan shouted defiance as police removed them from the protest.

Fifteen churchmen were also arrested as demonstrators launched the biggest anti-nuclear protest seen in Scotland since the early 1960s. A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said it arrested 195 women and 178 men, mainly on breach of the peace charges, while military police arrested a further six people.

By Monday night almost all those arrested had been released. They will still be the subject of reports to the Procurator Fiscal. Mr Sheridan served five days of a 14-day jail sentence for non-payment of a fine in relation to a demonstration last February. The latest demonstration, which was designed to close the base for the day, began at 0700GMT and was organised by anti-nuclear weapons group Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND.

Banners of support

A number of protesters formed a human chain at the north gate entrance to the base at Helensburgh and they were cheered on by crowds on either side of the main gate who waved banners of support.

Before being led away by police, Mr Sheridan, said: "The world is against nuclear weapons and today proves that the time for talking is over and demonstrations throughout the world should start against nuclear weapons."

Mr Galloway said: "We are worried about how to pay for care of the elderly and reducing class sizes in schools. "However, we are spending millions on weapons of mass destruction that will never be used."

Some of the estimated 500 demonstrators unfurled banners at the base, including a red flag and a depiction of a child maimed by nuclear weapons. Protesters banged on drums, while others chanted slogans.

Police used power tools to cut through tubing which protesters had used to tie themselves together. They also had to dismantle the costume of a woman dressed as a silver nuclear missile before they could arrest her.

Author Alasdair Gray, who joined CND in 1958, called on MSPs to take action against the presence of nuclear weapons in Scotland. He said: "Scotland now has her own parliament and hopefully this may lead to something being done about nuclear weapons."

Depth of feeling

Mr Sheridan’s wife Gail defended her husband’s actions and said: "I have taken the mince out and I will have it ready as he should be home for his tea. I am very proud of him and I know he will continue to protest unless these evil weapons are taken away from us."

Scottish National Party MSP Linda Fabiani said the demonstration showed the depth of feeling against nuclear weapons.

A spokeswoman for Faslane said staff were still managing to get into work despite the protest. She said: "We knew this was going to happen so we made sure we got people onto the site before it started. "We are managing to get people in and out although both entrances are booked so access is very difficult. Non essential staff have been advised to stay at home or work from home."

Faslane is home to the four-strong Trident submarine fleet. Each vessel has 16 missile tubes and the weapons are said to be accurate to within 100 yards. Hundreds have been arrested in previous protests over several years. Trident Ploughshares predicted that up to 1,000 activists would be present from countries across Europe.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Right Reverend Andrew McLellan, joined the action and took part in an ecumenical service at the protest site. Mr McLellan said: "I am here to demonstrate the Church of Scotland’s long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons in general and Trident in particular. "I am very impressed with the atmosphere and both the police and the protesters have been both cordial and courteous. I am not going to be arrested but some of my best friends have been."

The protesters received a message of support from Sir Sean Connery.

New Trident submarine in service

Tuesday, 13 February, 2001

The MoD has confirmed a new submarine is operational. The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the latest addition to the Trident submarine fleet has entered full service at Faslane. A spokesman for the MoD said HMS Vengeance was now part of Britain’s nuclear deterrent.

Tuesday’s announcement came less than 24 hours after an estimated 1000 people gathered outside the Clyde facility to voice their opposition to the Trident system. Armed forces minister John Spellar also underlined the government’s commitment to Trident and the maintenance of nuclear deterrent patrols "in future decades". Police arrested more than 370 people during the demonstration which was attended by leading churchmen and politicians.

Church of Scotland Minister, Reverend Norman Shanks, the leader of the Iona Community, was among those arrested. He also suffered a similar fate at a Trident protest a year earlier. But he told BBC Newsnight Scotland on Monday, the protest was not something he entered into lightly. "What is happening at Faslane is a clear attempt on the part of those of us who are there from within the church to make a statement against violence, and to say that weapons of war - particularly the kinds of weapons that are represented by Trident missiles - are contrary to God’s purpose for humanity," he said.

Speaking out

He said that being arrested was an ordeal, but part of the Christian faith involved putting yourself on the line. "There is clear justification, both within the traditions of the church and on the basis of scripture, for people - whether ministers or lay people who have Christian convictions - to stand up and speak out for what they believe, even if that involves civil disobedience," he said. "We believe that Trident represents something that is so significantly wrong and offensive, and such a huge waste of Britain’s money in today’s world, that this is justified.

"The position of the church in Scotland is clearly against Trident. We are embodying the views within churches in Scotland today." He said the UK Government had shown that it was not prepared to move on the issue. "We have gone a long way down the road with all the alternatives," he said. "The government refuses to talk to the people who are prominently involved with the Trident Ploughshares campaign." He added that the level of support at the demonstration had been "tremendously encouraging".

’Nuisance’ factor

Police have estimated the number of protesters at about 500, although he thought the figure was closer to the 1000 predicted by campaign organisers.

However, Conservative MSP Ben Wallace said the British people had been given the chance to vote for disarmament back in 1983 and had chosen not to do so. And he said that blocking the road into Faslane amounted to "nuisance" rather than disobedience. "If he is protesting to stop nuclear submarines you don’t sit on the road. Nuclear submarines leave by the loch," he said. He said the Rev Shanks did not speak for the whole church, pointing out that there were ministers and padres in the armed forces. And he said nuclear weapons were cheaper when compared to conventional armed forces - and stressed that there was still a need for such a deterrent.

The biggest anti-nuclear protest seen in Scotland since the early 1960s was organised by anti-nuclear weapons group Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND. A number of protesters formed a human chain at the north gate entrance to the base at Helensburgh and they were cheered on by crowds on either side of the main gate who waved banners of support.

ITN Online

"I am with you in spirit and give you best wishes for your demonstration and your just cause" - Sir Sean Connery in a message to protesters

Police have arrested ten people protesting outside the home of Britain’s nuclear deterrent. The arrests were made at a protest organised by Scottish CND outside Faslane Royal Navy base where Trident submarines are maintained.

Protesters said about 1000 people had joined the demonstration. Labour MP George Galloway was among those arrested. Scottish CND administrator John Ainslie said: "This is the biggest protest in Scotland since 1961 and it is the biggest ever held at Faslane."

Strathclyde police said five men and five women were arrested for breach of the peace at the naval base on the River Clyde.

The demonstration, which aims to close the base for the day, began at 7am and has been organised by anti-nuclear weapons group Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND. The protesters claim the weapons breach international law because they cannot distinguish between civilian and military targets. Those joining the crowds included Scottish Socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan, who was jailed after taking part in a similar protest at the base last year, and the moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, the Rt Rev Andrew McLellan.

Mr McLellan said: "I am here to demonstrate the Church of Scotland’s long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons in general and Trident in particular. I am not going to be arrested but some of my best friends have been."

Sir Sean Connery has backed the mass demonstration, though he was unable to attend the protest because of other commitments. In a phone call to the former leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Alex Salmond, Sir Sean said: "I cannot be with you in person because of filming commitments. "But be assured that I am with you in spirit and give you best wishes for your demonstration and your just cause."

Author Alasdair Gray, who joined CND in 1958, called on MSPs to take action against the presence of nuclear weapons in Scotland, saying: "Scotland now has her own Parliament and hopefully this may lead to something being done about nuclear weapons."

Scottish CND administrator John Ainslie said people had come from as far afield as France, Denmark and the United States to join the demonstration.

SNP Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, said the demonstration showed the depth of feeling against nuclear weapons. She said: "There was a view that last year’s protests were a one-off and that the momentum of the campaign would not be maintained but today has proved that wrong."

Britain’s independent nuclear deterrent
  Each Trident submarine weighs 15,900 tons and has a crew of 135.
  It carries 16 Lockheed Trident II nuclear missiles.
  Each of these can carry 12 multiple independent re-entry vehicles.
  The Government has put a limit of 48 warheads which can be carried on each Trident submarine.
  There are four submarines - Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance.
  The order for the boats - costing £14 billion - was the biggest order made by the Ministry of Defence.

Edinburgh Evening News Online

Chris Marks

POLITICIANS Tommy Sheridan and George Galloway were among at least 200 protesters arrested at a demonstration at Faslane naval base today. Strathclyde Police said a total of 200 people had been arrested by 11am today.

The politicians joined more than a thousand people at the base on the Clyde calling for the removal of nuclear weapons. The moderator of the Church of Scotland General Assembly, the Rt Rev Andrew McLellan, Green MSP Robin Harper and the SNP’s Fiona Hyslop were also present.

Sir Sean Connery sent word of his support for the demonstration at the home of Britain’s Trident nuclear submarines.

Scottish Socialist MSP Mr Sheridan and Labour MP Mr Galloway were among ten people - five men and five women - arrested for breach of the peace within the first hour of the demonstration. The two politicians linked arms as they walked towards the gates of the base to join scores of protesters already there. They sat beside a model of a Trident missile and were surrounded by other protesters who linked arms to prevent themselves being dragged away by the police. Officers waded through the crowds to warn Mr Sheridan and Mr Galloway that they could be committing a breach of the peace but the two refused to move. Speaking to the crowd before his arrest, Mr Sheridan said: “Nuclear weapons are illegal and inhumane and we have to decommission them. If we want to decommission them around the world we have to start here. “The time for talking is over. We need to take direct action. We are here for peace, against war and against nuclear weapons.” Mr Galloway added: “Nuclear weapons are an increasing threat, particularly following the election of George W Bush, who supports the strategic defence initiative which will require the participation of Great Britain.” The pair were led away by police to massive cheers from the crowd. Mr Sheridan was jailed after taking part in a similar protest at the base last year.

He served five days of a 14-day jail sentence for non-payment of a £250 fine in relation to a demonstration last February.

The demonstration, which aims to close the base for the day, began at 7am and has been organised by anti-nuclear weapons group Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND. Scottish CND administrator John Ainslie said people had come from as far afield as the US to join the demonstration. “This is the biggest protest in Scotland since 1961 and it is the biggest ever held at Faslane,” he said.

The protesters claim the weapons breach international law because they cannot distinguish between civilian and military targets. Sir Sean is backing the mass demonstration, though he was said to be unable to attend the protest because of other commitments.

In a phone call to the former leader of the Scottish Nationalist Party, Alex Salmond, the actor said: “I cannot be with you in person because of filming commitments. But be assured that I am with you in spirit.”

Mr McLellan said: “I am here to demonstrate the Church of Scotland’s long-standing opposition to nuclear weapons in general and Trident in particular. “I am very impressed with the atmosphere and both the police and the protesters have been both cordial and courteous. I am not going to be arrested but some of my best friends have been.”

A spokeswoman for Faslane said staff were still managing to get into work despite the protest. She said: “We knew this was going to happen so we made sure we got people on to the site before it started. “We are managing to get people in and out although both entrances are blocked so access is very difficult. Non-essential staff have been advised to stay at home or work from home.”

Each of the four Trident subs at the base has 16 missile tubes. The missiles have a range of up to 6000 miles and are said to be accurate to within 100 yards.

SNP Linda Fabiani, MSP for Central Scotland, said the demonstration showed the depth of feeling against nuclear weapons. She said: “There was a view that last year’s protests were a one-off and that the momentum of the campaign would not be maintained but today has proved that wrong.”

Among the protesters were a number of clergymen including the Rev David Platt, 70, a retired Church of England vicar from Oxford. He travelled to Faslane by coach along with two other vicars, a Roman Catholic priest and 25 students. Mr Platt said: “I am here today because I think Trident is immoral, illegal, irresponsible and irrelevant.” Hundreds have been arrested in previous protests over several years.

Campaigners were expected from all over the UK, as well as Ireland, Belgium, Holland and Denmark with first estimates claiming around 1200 people were at the base.

A spokesman for organisers Trident Ploughshares said: “The blockade will widen still further the cracks that are showing in public and official complacency about Trident. There is a growing recognition that it is illegal and an acceptance that ordinary citizens have a right and a duty to intervene where they can.” Following his arrest, Mr Sheridan’s wife Gail said: “I have taken the mince out and I will have it ready as he should be home for his tea. I am really proud of Tommy standing up like this even after he was jailed last year. I think he’s a real example to the other MSPs. I know he will continue to protest unless these evil weapons are taken away from us.”

Scottish National Party defence spokesman Colin Campbell MSP said: “The churches in Scotland oppose it, as does the SNP, the trade unions, Scottish CND and Labour in Scotland. Monday, 12th February 2001

The Scotsman Online

Tom Gordon

ALMOST 400 people, including 15 members of the clergy, were arrested for blocking the entrance to the Faslane naval base yesterday, in the biggest ever demonstration against nuclear weapons at the site.

George Galloway, Labour MP for Glasgow Kelvin, and Tommy Sheridan MSP, the leader of the Scottish Socialist Party, were among those arrested.

Strathclyde Police last night put the total number of arrests at 373 - made up of 195 women and 179 men - twice the total arrested at a similar demonstration last February. Organisers claimed that 1,000 demonstrators gathered at the north and south gates of the Helensburgh base for the annual Big Blockade, aimed at preventing workers entering the site.

They said the protest, which began at 7am, had snowballed since the first three years ago because the Scottish parliament and the anti-capitalist demonstrations in Seattle had revived the confidence of the protest movement.

The author Alasdair Gray, Ian Hamilton, QC, William Wolf, former leader of the SNP, and the Green Party MEP Caroline Lucas were among those arrested - along with the Rev Flora Munro, the minister of Cults East church in Aberdeen. Gray, the author of Lanark, was arrested after an hour of sitting in the road. Minutes before her arrest, Ms Munro, 55, said: "I am quite prepared for this, even though it will be the first time. "It is being done for our future and unborn generations in the hope that we can stop this abomination which is doing untold damage to humanity and creation."

The demonstration was organised by the anti-nuclear groups Trident Ploughshares and Scottish CND. They claim the nuclear weapons carried by the four Trident submarines at the base breach international law because they cannot distinguish between civilian and military targets.

The Scottish CND administrator John Ainslie said: "This is the biggest protest in Scotland since 1961 and it is the biggest ever held at Faslane."

The Rev Norman Shanks, leader of the Iona Community, and one the clergy arrested, said: "The church ministers are here to show their opposition to Trident and that’s a Christian opposition. There’s a strong Christian tradition of civil disobedience." Other clergy arrested included Norman Shanks, leader of the Iona Community, Griff Dines, the provost of Glasgow’s Episcopal St Mary’s Cathedral, and Gilbert Markus, the Catholic Chaplain to Glasgow University.

More than 300 police officers were drafted in from around the Strathclyde area. Chief Superintendent Harry Bunch said the day had passed peacefully.

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