Morning Star, 20/02/07
SCOTTISH Socialist MSPs Rosie Kane and Frances Curran boarded the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise on Monday as it sailed from Greenock to Faslane as part of the "Trident - we don't buy it" campaign.
Both MSPs are veteran anti-nuclear campaigners and are strongly opposed to new Labour's plans to renew Britain's nuclear missiles based on the Clyde.
Both were arrested at the Faslane nuclear base last month during a peaceful protest against the plans.
"We are pleased to join the Greenpeace protest which adds to the mushrooming opposition to Blair's nuclear weapons madness," the MSPs said in a statement.
"We need more homes, free school meals, free public transport and an end to privatisation - not more spending on war and nuclear missiles.
"It's time to get the missiles out of the Clyde and end our involvement with Britain's weapons of mass destruction."
The Arctic Sunrise trip is part of a week of national protest building up to the massive Stop the War demonstrations in London and Glasgow on Saturday.
(More on this in
Colin Fox MSP's Blog)
Labels: francescurran, rosiekane, trident
The HeraldJack McConnell yesterday attacked the group of MSPs who protested against the Trident nuclear deterrent this week, accusing them of wasting police time by trying to get arrested for publicity.
The charge led to angry scenes at First Minister's Question time.
On Monday, three Socialist MSPs - Rosie Kane, Carolyn Leckie and Frances Curran - were arrested but not charged after protesting outside the Faslane naval base.
Green MSPs and SNP Holyrood leader Nicola Sturgeon also took part in the Faslane 365 demo, a year-long attempted blockade at the Clyde base which began last October...
After angrily asking the Presiding Officer to be allowed to speak, Ms Curran said she and other MSPs had been protesting within the law, and if the policing costs were high it was only because the security was disproportionate.
She later accused Mr McNeil of being "Tony Blair's nuclear mouthpiece".
She said: "Far from protesters apologising, he should say sorry to pensioners, low-paid workers and those facing cuts in health services for taking their money and squandering £76bn on useless weapons of mass destruction.
"With his New Labour colleagues he hasn't the guts to tell Blair to scrap missiles and spend the cash on schools, hospitals and desperately- needed houses."
Labels: faslane, francescurran
