BBC NEWS Scottish Socialist MSP Rosie Kane has been fined £150 following her arrest at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde.

She was charged with breach of the peace, resisting arrest and blocking the highway during a protest against Trident nuclear submarines in August.

After the case at Helensburgh Sheriff Court, the Glasgow MSP said: "Trident is illegal, immoral and wrong.

"We should use the vast sums of money these weapons swallow up to educate our young and fund the health service."

The sheriff said that if Ms Kane refused to pay the fine she would impose a supervised attendance order.

Edinburgh Evening News AMERICA’S only socialist congressman is to lead this year’s May Day parade through Edinburgh.

Bernie Sanders, who sits for the state of Vermont in the US House of Representatives, is one of his country’s most outspoken critics of the war in Iraq. And he has led opposition to a spate of corporate scandals rocking America.

Congressman Sanders says he champions "the cause of ordinary hard working American families".

And as the only member of the House of Representatives who does not belong to the Democrat or Republican parties, he occupies a unique position in US political life.

Scottish Socialist Party leader and Lothians MSP Colin Fox said he expected the visit to spark huge interest. He added: "Many people will be surprised to hear that there is a socialist sitting in the US Congress.

"Bernie Sanders is a truly remarkable figure. In 1991 he became the first Independent to be elected to Congress in 40 years. He is now the longest serving ‘Independent’ in American history.

"He has been re-elected six times since to represent the people of Vermont. Bernie is living proof that promoting socialist ideas can win popular support Stateside."

The Edinburgh May Day parade will take place on Saturday, April 30. Mr Fox said: "It is quite a coup for us to get Bernie to come over here and lead our parade."

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit Press Release: 15/03/05

SSP: British troops must join Italians in leaving Iraq

Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox tonight called for the immediate withdrawal of all British troops from Iraq following the announcement that the 3,000 Italian troops taking part in the occupation are to leave the country.

Colin said tonight; "The illegal occupation of Iraq is unravelling before our eyes. "Tony Blair will soon be the only ally that George Bush has left in the complete disaster that has unfolded in Iraq over the past two years. "I would urge all Scots who marched against this illegal war and who have been proved absolutely right to join the demonstration in Glasgow this Saturday marking the second anniversary of the invasion. "No more blood must be spilled in the name of George Bush's war for oil; bring the troops home now."

Saturday 19th March
Glasgow Anti-War March and Rally

Assemble Royal Exchange Square 12 noon, march off 12.30 pm to a Rally in St Enoch Square at 1pm where the names of the victims of those killed in Iraq and the names of those responsible will be read out. Speakers including Rose Gentle.

Organised by the Scottish Coalition for Justice not War and the Campaign for Justice for Gordon Gentle.

BBC News Online

The Scottish Socialist Party also joined in the condemnation of the government.
Its national convenor Colin Fox pledged his party's support for the CalMac workers and said: "They have the complete backing of the SSP in their fight to defend jobs, pay, conditions and pensions.
"The SSP has done everything we can in parliament to back the CalMac workers and we will continue to do so alongside practical solidarity by our members on the ground and in the RMT.
"By putting west coast ferry services to competition the executive is going against the democratic will of the Scottish people expressed in parliament by a vote not to put the routes out to tender."

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit
Press Release: 14/03/05

SSP pledges support for CalMac strike

Scottish Socialist Party national convenor Colin Fox MSP today pledged the support of the SSP for the CalMac workers who have voted to strike to defend jobs, pay, conditions and pensions.
Colin said today;
“The CalMac workers have the complete backing of the Scottish Socialist Party in their fight to defend jobs, pay, conditions and pensions.
“The SSP has done everything we can in the Scottish Parliament to back the CalMac workers and we will continue to do so alongside practical solidarity by our members on the ground and in the RMT.
“By putting west coast ferry services to competition the Scottish Executive is going against the democratic will of the Scottish people expressed in the Parliament by a vote not to put the routes out to tender.
“If public sector unions go ahead with planned industrial action on March 23rd they will be joined by CalMac workers in the biggest show of trade union militancy for many years.
“The SSP is proud to stand alongside all workers taking action to defend their, wages, pensions and conditions against the Thatcherite onslaught of Tony Blair’s New Tory party.”
[ends]

SSP Research, Policy & Media Unit Press Release: 14/03/05

President of Venezuela's Women's Development Bank speaks at Scottish Parliament

This meeting is organised by Rosie Kane MSP and Global Women's Strike. GWS demands a change in economic priorities and the return of military budgets to the community, beginning with women the first carers. Women in over 60 countries, and men who support our goal that society Invest in Caring Not Killing, take Strike action on/around 8 March, International Women's Day.

Scottish Parliament: 1.30-2.30pm, Tuesday 15 March (Room T22, Holyrood).

Speakers:
* Nora Castañeda, President of the Women's Development Bank (Banmujer) in Venezuela. A renowned economist committed to grassroots women, she was appointed by President Chavez to head the Women's Bank in response to women's demands.
* Angélica Alvarez, originally from Chile, fled to Venezuela after the 1973 military coup against President Allende. As Banmujer's promoter-co-ordinator, she provides crucial support and direction to the Red Popular de Usuarias – the users' autonomous organisation.

Motion to Scottish Parliament:

US plot to assassinate President Chavez and visit to Scotland of Women's Development Bank

This Parliament notes that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has accused the US government of plotting to assassinate him for refusing to privatise and hand over to US corporations the oil and water that belong to the Venezuelan people; condemns any attempt to overthrow popular elected governments whilst preaching democracy; and welcomes to Scotland as part of their European tour Venezuela's Women's Development Bank, which aims to "eliminate poverty by giving power to the poor, creating a caring economy, an economy at the service of human beings, rather than human beings at the service of the economy". ROSIE KANE MSP

WHY VENEZUELA? The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the world's 5th largest oil exporter, yet the majority of people, mainly people of colour, live in poverty. They elected President Hugo Chávez to get the oil revenue back to tackle poverty, and passed a revolutionary constitution which includes Article 88, which recognizes that housewives create added value and must be compensated with social security. In 2002 they defeated a US-backed coup and then an oil sabotage. In 2004, elections ratified Chavez in power and won 20 out of 22 states. Literacy, education, healthcare, housing, land rights and food security have leapt forward. The users of Banmujer, housewives and mothers who form co-operatives and associations, have been key in every initiative. Defying US attempts to intervene and discredit this "participatory democracy" based on grassroots self-activity, the Bolivarian revolution is a beacon of hope for people everywhere who demand an end to the twin terrors of poverty and war.

BBC NEWS An MSP convicted over an anti-nuclear protest will not be struck off as a registered midwife.

Carolyn Leckie, Scottish Socialist Party MSP for Central Scotland, was arrested during a demonstration at Faslane naval base.

She was jailed for refusing to pay a £100 fine after being found guilty of a breach of the peace.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council confirmed that she will not be subject to disciplinary action.

Ms Leckie was jailed for seven days but only spent one night in Cornton Vale women's prison at the end of January.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council informed the former midwife by letter that she would be subject to a preliminary hearing because of her conviction.

Following a hearing, council members decided that there should be no further action taken.

Ms Leckie said on Saturday that she was delighted with the ruling.

She added: "I'd like to thank everyone who offered their support. I'm obviously pleased that the Nursing and Midwifery Council has taken the decision not to proceed any further.

"I had confidence in the professional judgement of the council and that has been borne out by their decision."