Latest news with #TommySheppard
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
I was at the national Palestine protest in Edinburgh and saw hope
This protest came at a time when activists across the UK calling out the genocide in Gaza are having to censor their own language, clothing, and signs, or risk arrest. "What about my watermelon earrings?" one activist asked me when I arrived. Another pointed to their socks that were in support of Palestine. According to campaign group Defend Our Juries, more than 150 arrests have been made at demonstrations across the UK. READ MORE: RECAP: Activists defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts in Edinburgh In Scotland, Sean Clerkin, 64, was arrested and has been charged under the Terrorism Act, after he displayed a placard stating "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action". A 55-year-old man was also charged in Glasgow last week under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for Palestine Action. Both of those actions took place in Edinburgh on Saturday, but no arrests were made despite police in attendance at two different protests. 'We are not here to support Palestine Action, we are here against genocide', Mick Napier, from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told the crowd outside St Giles who were embarking on their route to first the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House, and then to Bute House, the official residence of the first minister of Scotland. "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action" was chanted several times throughout the day. Protesters held banners which read "we will not be silenced" and "[[UK Government]] is corrupt". Journalist Lesley Riddoch, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, Alba leader Kenny MacAskill, and leaders from the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC) led the march. Outside the [[UK Government]] offices, Sheppard called for his colleagues in the Scottish Government to "think again" about Scottish Enterprise funding going to Israeli-linked arms companies. Sheppard said: "To my colleagues in the Scottish Government, it is time to think again about the fact that Scottish Enterprise has a relationship with these [arms manufacturing] companies. "That needs to be ended. It cannot be justified by saying, 'oh, none of the money goes to produce arms, it's a completely different part of the company, nothing to do with arms exports'. "Do you remember in the 1970s and 1980s when we fought against apartheid and we campaigned to boycott Barclays? No one said 'let's boycott Barclays but make an exemption when they're funding community projects locally'. Tommy Sheppard (Image: Laura Pollock) "No, the whole point of boycotting and taking action against the company is to make sure that they understand that their actions in one part of the world have consequences for everything else they do elsewhere. "That is that is how we apply leverage and that is what we must do as well." He later told me the shift in Israel's assault with their plans for a concentration camp in Gaza is the key reason the stance by the Scottish Government must reviewed. READ MORE: Garbage join growing artist coalition against pro-Palestine censorship "They [the Scottish Government] have to stop being scared when the other side are trying to demonise us and trying to make us worry that we're going to arrested for turning up," Sheppard said. Riddoch took to the microphone next and was visibly emotional when sharing her anger at arrests made following the proscription of Palestine Action. "We can remember situations in the past like this and thought this would never happen again, when people are wondering if the police will arrest someone for wearing a t-shirt," she said. "So the point is, as everybody here has said, this is a genocide, as everyone is saying here together, Palestine needs action and we will all go together on that one." Lesley Riddoch (Image: Laura Pollock) She later spoke directly to officers in the crowd, adding: "Now I'm appealing to the police. I know it's tough. You are moral citizens as well. "Do we look like terrorists?" Later, MacAskill spoke outside Bute House: "Many countries have had the courage that the UK are only going to face in terms of a conviction at The Hague in some day to come. "Take a bow South Africa, Spain, Ireland." He continued: "We do wish to see the hostages returned, but it's nothing to do with them. Kenny MacAskill (Image: Laura Pollock) "Netanyahu's war is about the obliteration of Gaza and the colonization of Palestine and the removal of its people. "That's what it is. That's why we have to speak out." Doha Abu Amer, a Palestinian woman who has family in Gaza, Colin Brown from the Fire Brigades Union Scotland, and Billy Hendry, an ex-Royal Marine, all spoke as well. There were several chants calling out both Keir Starmer and John Swinney, telling them "you can't hide" - many by children. "She is driving a lot of things," one of the mothers told me of her 11-year-old daughter, "even at school, she was trying to do a bake sale for Palestine. I have to catch up with what she is wanting to do. Our kids today are so aware of what is going on. "You cannot push children to do something if they don't believe in it in their hearts." When activists put on t-shirts that others have been arrested for, the crowd cheered and I looked towards Police Scotland officers in the crowd. One liaison officer took a picture of them, and the pair spoke to each other, but no action was taken. "Strength in numbers?" Riddoch later questioned on social media after everyone made it home. READ MORE: Uniformed police pulled from Glasgow Pride over 'impartiality' concerns Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan, who leads the policing operation in Westminster where more than 100 activists have been arrested over the last two weeks, warned on Friday that those expressing support for Palestine Action 'will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested'. He added: 'I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.' After the march, Riddoch told me: "A lot of people in my family were saying 'if you get lifted for a terrorism charge, you'll never be able to go anywhere with your passport again'. "This is the kind of stuff they're doing to just drive complete fear of saying: this is a genocide." In Scotland on Saturday, there was no fear. Only action, and hope.
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
I was at the national Palestine protest in Edinburgh. Here's what happened
This protest came at a time when activists across the UK calling out the genocide in Gaza are having to censor their own language, clothing, and signs, or risk arrest. "What about my watermelon earrings?" one activist asked me when I arrived. Another pointed to their socks that were in support of Palestine. According to campaign group Defend Our Juries, more than 150 arrests have been made at demonstrations across the UK. READ MORE: RECAP: Activists defy Labour with illegal pro-Palestine T-shirts in Edinburgh In Scotland, Sean Clerkin, 64, was arrested and has been charged under the Terrorism Act, after he displayed a placard stating "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action". A 55-year-old man was also charged in Glasgow last week under suspicion of terror offences for wearing a T-shirt allegedly showing support for Palestine Action. Both of those actions took place in Edinburgh on Saturday, but no arrests were made despite police in attendance at two different protests. 'We are not here to support Palestine Action, we are here against genocide', Mick Napier, from the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, told the crowd outside St Giles who were embarking on their route to first the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House, and then to Bute House, the official residence of the first minister of Scotland. "Genocide in Palestine, Time to Take Action" was chanted several times throughout the day. Protesters held banners which read "we will not be silenced" and "[[UK Government]] is corrupt". Journalist Lesley Riddoch, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, Alba leader Kenny MacAskill, and leaders from the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC) led the march. Outside the [[UK Government]] offices, Sheppard called for his colleagues in the Scottish Government to "think again" about Scottish Enterprise funding going to Israeli-linked arms companies. Sheppard said: "To my colleagues in the Scottish Government, it is time to think again about the fact that Scottish Enterprise has a relationship with these [arms manufacturing] companies. "That needs to be ended. It cannot be justified by saying, 'oh, none of the money goes to produce arms, it's a completely different part of the company, nothing to do with arms exports'. "Do you remember in the 1970s and 1980s when we fought against apartheid and we campaigned to boycott Barclays? No one said 'let's boycott Barclays but make an exemption when they're funding community projects locally'. Tommy Sheppard (Image: Laura Pollock) "No, the whole point of boycotting and taking action against the company is to make sure that they understand that their actions in one part of the world have consequences for everything else they do elsewhere. "That is that is how we apply leverage and that is what we must do as well." He later told me the shift in Israel's assault with their plans for a concentration camp in Gaza is the key reason the stance by the Scottish Government must reviewed. READ MORE: Garbage join growing artist coalition against pro-Palestine censorship "They [the Scottish Government] have to stop being scared when the other side are trying to demonise us and trying to make us worry that we're going to arrested for turning up," Sheppard said. Riddoch took to the microphone next and was visibly emotional when sharing her anger at arrests made following the proscription of Palestine Action. "We can remember situations in the past like this and thought this would never happen again, when people are wondering if the police will arrest someone for wearing a t-shirt," she said. "So the point is, as everybody here has said, this is a genocide, as everyone is saying here together, Palestine needs action and we will all go together on that one." Lesley Riddoch (Image: Laura Pollock) She later spoke directly to officers in the crowd, adding: "Now I'm appealing to the police. I know it's tough. You are moral citizens as well. "Do we look like terrorists?" Later, MacAskill spoke outside Bute House: "Many countries have had the courage that the UK are only going to face in terms of a conviction at The Hague in some day to come. "Take a bow South Africa, Spain, Ireland." He continued: "We do wish to see the hostages returned, but it's nothing to do with them. Kenny MacAskill (Image: Laura Pollock) "Netanyahu's war is about the obliteration of Gaza and the colonization of Palestine and the removal of its people. "That's what it is. That's why we have to speak out." Doha Abu Amer, a Palestinian woman who has family in Gaza, Colin Brown from the Fire Brigades Union Scotland, and Billy Hendry, an ex-Royal Marine, all spoke as well. There were several chants calling out both Keir Starmer and John Swinney, telling them "you can't hide" - many by children. "She is driving a lot of things," one of the mothers told me of her 11-year-old daughter, "even at school, she was trying to do a bake sale for Palestine. I have to catch up with what she is wanting to do. Our kids today are so aware of what is going on. "You cannot push children to do something if they don't believe in it in their hearts." When activists put on t-shirts that others have been arrested for, the crowd cheered and I looked towards Police Scotland officers in the crowd. One liaison officer took a picture of them, and the pair spoke to each other, but no action was taken. "Strength in numbers," Riddoch later questioned on social media after everyone made it home. READ MORE: Uniformed police pulled from Glasgow Pride over 'impartiality' concerns Deputy assistant commissioner Ade Adelekan, who leads the policing operation in Westminster where more than 100 activists have been arrested over the last two weeks, warned on Friday that those expressing support for Palestine Action 'will likely be committing an offence and will very likely be arrested'. He added: 'I would urge those people to consider the seriousness of being arrested under the Terrorism Act and the very real long-term implications – from travel, to employment, to finances – that such an arrest is likely to have for their future.' After the march, Riddoch told me: "A lot of people in my family were saying 'if you get lifted for a terrorism charge, you'll never be able to go anywhere with your passport again'. "This is the kind of stuff they're doing to just drive complete fear of saying: this is a genocide."
The National
4 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Speakers announced for Edinburgh Gaza protest on Saturday
The protest on Saturday, organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC) and the Edinburgh Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee (GGEC), was called in response to reports that the UK is continuing to send spy flights over Gaza and sharing information with Israel. Campaigners will assemble outside St Giles' Cathedral at Parliament Square at 1pm on Saturday. READ MORE: Legal complaint filed after armed police threaten woman for holding Palestine flag The march route will go down the Royal Mile to Queen Elizabeth House, which is the UK Government's headquarters in [[Edinburgh]]. Campaigners will then head along Market Street before crossing over Waverley Bridge onto Princes Street, then South St David Street, before going down George Street and ending outside Bute House, the First Minister's official residence. On Friday, the SPSC announced the full list of speakers for the protest. Those set to speak include journalist and broadcaster Lesley Riddoch, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill and lawyer Aamer Anwar. Full list of speakers at Saturday's pro-Palestine Edinburgh protest: Doha Abu Amer, who has family in Gaza Aamer Anwar, lawyer Colin Brown, FBU Scotland Billy Hendry, Scottish ex-Royal Marine Lesley Riddoch, broadcaster and journalist Kenny MacAskill, Alba Party leader Tommy Sheppard, former SNP MP The protest was initially set to assemble at the foot of the Mound. Organisers changed the start point to the top of the Mound, however they said "safety concerns had been raised", leading them to change the meeting point to Parliament Square. Ahead of the protest on Saturday, a spokesperson for the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: 'Israel is planning the end game – the complete ethnic cleansing of the whole of Palestine. 'Israel is escalating its massacres in Gaza and attacks across the West Bank. Israel is designating Rafah as a concentration zone under the sick label of 'humanitarian corridor'. READ MORE: Police Scotland issue terror charge for man with 'Palestine Action poster in window' 'Children are starving to death in Gaza due to blocked aid and targeted food distribution points. Civilians attempting to access food are being ambushed and killed in huge numbers. 'The West Bank is seeing a surge in settler violence, with Palestinian homes and lives under daily threat." The spokesperson added: 'The RAF has flown over Gaza at least 518 times during the genocide, providing intelligence to the Israeli military below. 'Despite the scale of the atrocity, UK political and institutional leaders remain largely silent.'
The National
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Group of MPs accept cash from Israeli weapons firm
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology – a cross-party group of MPs – has taken money from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd, a weapons firm which is owned by the Israeli government. As revealed by Declassified UK, RUK Advanced Systems Ltd paid at least £1499 to partner with the APPG, sending the money directly to the group's secretariat. RUK Advanced Systems Ltd makes missiles for urban warfare, and is part of Israel's state-owned defence giant, Rafael. READ MORE: Scots back independence as Keir Starmer's popularity at record low, new poll finds While it describes itself as a "UK company", Declassified reported that it is controlled by the Israeli government's ministry of finance, which is led by far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the UK Government last month for inciting "extremist violence" against Palestinians. The company's director has also confirmed it is "owned by Rafael in Israel". It is against parliamentary rules for APPGs to "accept the services of a secretariat funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government". Of the 30 MPs involved in the APPG, five are from Scottish Labour. They are: Gordon McKee (Glasgow South) Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar) Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudon) Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan) The other MPs on the group are Neil Shastri-Hurt (co-chair), Fred Thomas (co-chair), Sarah Bool (officer), Anna Gelderd (officer), Ben Obese-Jecty, Gagan Mohindra, Luke Akehurst, David Reed, Peter Lamb, John Slinger, Samantha Niblett, Michelle Scrogham, Gurinder Josan, Louise Jones, James Wild, George Freeman, Tan Dhesi, Martin Wrigley, Lauren Edwards, Dr Allison Gardner, Helen Maguire, Lewis Cocking, Bradley THomas, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Iain Duncan Smith. There are also several peers who are part of the group: Lord Mountevans, Baroness Golding, Baroness Goudie, Lord Mott, Baroness Brown, Baroness Buscombe, Lord Lucas, Lord Hunt, Lord Cromwell, Lord Northbrook. READ MORE: US oil giant Chevron to close Aberdeen offices in favour of London base The Defence Technology APPG runs a programme of events in Westminster to promote "engagement" between MPs and the arms industry. It is funded by 31 corporate partners, including American defence firm Lockheed Martin, which is the main producer of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel. Between them, the partners have paid more than £60,000 into the APPG to cover a 12 month period, gaining "visibility" and networking opportunities in return. Tommy Sheppard (Image: PA) Speaking to Declassified, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard – who sat on Westminster's Standards Committee – said the donation from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd "seems a crystal clear breach of the rules". 'The APPG should immediately cease taking funds from a company controlled by a foreign government and repay any monies it has received in the past two years," he said. "If it does not the group should be suspended and actions considered against office bearers.' Neither the APPG nor any of the MPs involved in the group responded to Declassified's request for comment. However, the outlet reported that RUK Advanced System Ltd's name was immediately removed from the group's website.
The National
05-06-2025
- Politics
- The National
SNP are erring far too much on the side of caution in indy fight
Of course, it is also informative to read the different arguments around independence and to read the views of various columnists on this core topic of the newspaper, especially when columnists such as Tommy Sheppard are prepared to engage with critics. Most without a personal gripe against the SNP sensibly realise that there are often good reasons why the SNP and the Scottish Government cannot reveal every step that is undertaken to further Scotland's self-determination, but while I personally accept much of Tommy's reasoning, it still appears that overall the SNP are erring on the side of caution rather than seeking to exploit every opportunity, no matter how seemingly tenuous. Moving ahead on all possible fronts, from progressing the ICCPR petition to advancing a Scottish constitution, the SNP have much to gain in mobilising support for the party and independence while those who do not see that real reform of the UK is necessary to address the many problems of broken Brexit Britain will simply vote in a mistaken attempt to delay the inevitable anyway. It seems a no-brainer that the Scottish Parliament should have the right to represent the people of Scotland 'on how they should be governed', including on UK constitutional matters, but the question remains that even if the SNP succeed in winning a majority of the seats in the next Holyrood election, or better still a majority of the votes are gained by pro-independence parties, what actions will follow to ensure that this time such a mandate is exercised? My personal view is that a timescale must be set from day one that makes it clear to the UK Government that refusal to respect the views of the people of Scotland will have significant consequences. If within the set period – perhaps a maximum of one year – the UK Government has not enacted legislation to effectively enable the Scottish Parliament to exercise its mandate, including the legal right to conduct a constitutional referendum, then MPs should be withdrawn from Westminster. And it should be made crystal clear to all that the next General Election will be a de facto referendum on the basis that the views of the people of Scotland will only be truly respected and represented when Scotland regains its independence. In the meantime, the common cause of independence would be aided if frustrated individuals could resist falling into the trap of repeating the slanted partial framing of BBC Scotland and the grossly misleading soundbites of scurrilous commentators in newspapers such as the Daily Mail. Kenny MacAskill's crude attempt to use John Swinney's condemnation of alleged calls to kill MPs in order to justify his criticism of John not doing more to end the slaughter in Gaza reeks of political opportunism that does not reflect well on a politician seeking to replace Scotland's First Minister. Iain Wilson's misguided attempt (Letters, June 2) to imply that the SNP Scottish Government is more concerned with the parliament's toilet arrangements than with those struggling to obtain NHS appointments is straight out of the Daily Mail and Nigel Farage playbooks. We can and must do better to achieve our common goal. Stan Grodynski Longniddry, East Lothian
