The Herald
Jack 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."
