Scottish MSP backs Gleeson

| Tuesday, 1 March 2005 Source: Oldham Chronicle

A SCOTTISH Parliament member is defending an Oldham TUC official charged with damaging a British National Party wreath.

MSP Tommy Sheridan, a member of the Scottish Socialist Party, has put down a motion calling for the charge of criminal damage against Martin Gleeson to be dropped.

Gleeson is also being supported by Plaid Cymru in Wales, which has sent him a letter of support.

Gleeson was arrested and charged following an incident at the Holocaust Memorial Day service at Oldham War Memorial on January 27.

The 43-year-old Amicus trade union member from Ravenwood, Chadderton, placed a wreath on top of one laid by a BNP member, allegedly causing £20 worth of damage.

Now Mr Sheridan has called on Greater Manchester Police to drop the charges.

So far his motion, which is similar to an early day motion in the House of Commons, has been backed by four other MSPs, two from the SSP, one independent and one Green.

But the motion is unlikely to be debated.

Mr Sheridan's motion calls on the Scottish Parliament to "recognise that the fascist BNP propaganda seeks to deny the Holocaust; believes that removing or covering a wreath laid by this deeply offensive racist party does not constitute criminal damage but is the reasonable action of any committed ant-fascist, anti-racist and trade unions member, and calls for charges against Mr Gleeson to be dropped immediately."

He calls for the "fascist and racist character of the BNP to be exposed at every opportunity."

Martin Gleeson has pleaded not guilty and is due to appear at Oldham Magistrates Court on March 22 for a pre-trial review.