SSP Falkirk Branch
Press Release - 8/12/00

Dangerous Revolutionary at Large in Glasgow Herald

The comrades assembled outside the Sheriff Officers, with Colin Fox, our regional organiser leading the charge. In he went and asked to speak to Mr Adamson. "I'm afraid, there's no Mr Adamson here", replied the receptionist. "Well, can we speak to the manager then?" - just at that the door opened was opened by an unsuspecting bailiff. Seizing his chance, Colin put his foot in the door and shoved. Iain Hunter, the SSP's candidate in Falkirk West, and the others then charged in much to the surprise of all concerned. After explaining that this was a peaceful protest, they locked themselves in and looked around for the red kagoul. Leaning out the window, Colin spotted him out on the pavement, "Well, up ye come then, ye're no gonnae get many pictures doon there!". "Ah, mare than ma jobs worth that - gonnae send Iain to the windae wi a megaphone an Ah'll get a picture", replied the kagoul. Iain duly obliged. "Great", said the kagoul, "Noo, dae ye think that we could maybe get some o youse doonstairs wi that banner". A group of comrades were dispatched. Protest over, out came the triumphant socialists and, after waving cheerio to the kagoul, off they went for a celebratory cup of tea.

Colin, as ever in the front line, marches to the counter and orders 13 teas and 2 coffees, but when the woman looks up from the till, her face is ashen. Colin quickly checks to see that he hasn't inadvertently put on his Tony Blair mask, but yup, all is as it should be. "Whit's wrong, hen?" he enquires, but the poor woman can only stutter and point. Colin turns round to see 2 black marias pulled up outside and 15 of Falkirk's finest in full riot gear marching in. "Whits going on here?", he asks the nearest. "Are you Iain Hunter?" the officer replies. In a show of brotherly solidarity in the face of state oppression, Colin goes, "Me, naw, that's him ower there". Iain is duly frog-marched out, as the comrades take their tea. Next thing they see is Iain loaded into the back of a black maria. Tea is quickly supped, before adjourning to the office to summon lawyers.

Back at the office, the survivors have barely sat down when the door bangs and ten more Falkirk constabulary again in full riot gear rush in. Confused they stare around the room for a bit. "Which yin o youse has a red kagoul?" "Nane o us", says Colin. "Aaach, didnae gie me that, he wiz seen. We've been telt he wiz the ringleader, directing yiz a' frae ootside". "Naw, honest", says Colin, "that wiznae wan o us ". Untrusting, but unwilling to conduct a full kagoul search, out go the dejected officers.

A dangerous revolutionary, sporting a red kagoul and a telephoto lens is now sought at the offices of the Glasgow Herald.

Now, this all makes for a very funny tale, and we all had a good laugh about it in the pub last night (albeit Iain's laughter was a little tempered by his suspension from work), but there is a serious point in all of this. Twenty-five police officer in full riot gear and two black marias were dispatched to get one socialist, for involvement in a short peaceful protest at a sheriff officers. A protest which involved entry of the premises by such intimidating creatures as a 77 year old woman. Yet burly sheriff officers, routinely enter the homes of poor families, often single mums with young children present, pensioners or disabled folk, and price up the few saleable possessions they own - the only people that come to their defence is the Scottish Socialist Party.

Thanks to the Labour Party, this is now set to continue until 31st Dec 2002.

Falkirk Branch, Scottish Socialist Party