SSP Press Release 21 August

Tommy Sheridan, Scottish Socialist MSP and National Convenor, will hand himself in to Govan police station on Sunday night at 10.15 p.m. He was issued an arrest warrant for non-payment of a fine after being found guilty of breach of the peace when protesting against Britain's weapons of mass destruction at Faslane nuclear submarine base in Dumbarton last year.

Sheridan has always maintained his commitment to refuse to pay the fine as he does not accept it is a crime to protest peacefully against nuclear weapons.

He said, “Nuclear weapons are a crime against humanity and should be removed from the Clyde and from Britain. It is the duty of all peace protesters to make a stand against nuclear weapons, and politicians in particular should be at the forefront of the nuclear disarmament campaign. If we spent our money on pensions and hospitals instead of nuclear bombs, our society would be a much better place to live”.

Sheridan will spend the night in Govan police station before being transferred to Glasgow Sheriff Court on Monday morning where it is likely he will be sentenced to 14 days in Glasgow's Barlinnie prison. Assuming Sheridan is well behaved, he should serve only half of this sentence.