> FROM: THE HERALD, 7 DECEMBER 2000 > > SSP candidate ends up in cell > FRANCES HORSBURGH and MURRAY RITCHIE > > THE Scottish Socialist Party candidate in the Falkirk West by- > election ended up behind bars yesterday after being arrested during a > protest against warrant sales. > > Iain Hunter, a 32-year-old community worker, was placed in a cell in > the local police office after he had joined his supporters in > occupying the office of a local sheriff's officer. > > The protest was staged as the bill by Tommy Sheridan to abolish > poindings and warrant sales was approved without a final vote by the > Scottish Parliament to the applause of MSPs. But the Scottish > Socialist Party MSP said a day of celebration had been soured by the > executive's determination to delay its implementation until the end > of 2002. > > SSP activists had promised their action would be peaceful, and later > appeared concerned at suggestions that Mr Hunter might be charged > with a minor assault. > > Alan McCombes, SSP campaign manager, said the Falkirk protest was > amicable and non-violent. Those taking part had gone to a nearby fast- > food shop when eight police officers arrived in two vans. He said Mr > Hunter was singled out and arrested. When the protesters returned to > their campaign headquarters, they found five policemen waiting for > them wanting names and telephone numbers. > > A police spokeswoman said there had been an incident and that a > report was being sent to the procurator-fiscal in Falkirk. > > In parliament, Mr Sheridan claimed the delay in implementing his bill > until the end of 2002 would mean 90,000 Scots would be subjected to > the shame and humiliation of a sheriff officer forcibly entering > their homes to value the possessions of their families. > > "Needless to say the majority of those 90,000 people will be members > of low income families - benefit claimants, lone parents, low paid > workers, disabled people, pensioners, and carers," he told MSPs. > > But his bid to ensure what many members condemned as "a barbaric > medieval" practice should end next April failed by 71 votes to 36. A > compromise date of the end of December 2001 put forward by John > McAllion, a Labour MSP and co-sponsor of the bill, was also voted > down, although both had the support of the SNP. > > Earlier this year, Labour backbenchers rebelled against the executive > and made it clear they intended to support Mr Sheridan's aim of > abolishing warrant sales in principle. In a last minute turnaround, > the executive dropped its opposition to the private member's bill but > insisted it could not be put into effect at once. > > During yesterday's debate Mr Sheridan clashed angrily with ministers > as they argued that ending warrant sales in April or December 2001 > was "unrealistic" and did not leave enough time to find an > alternative method of debt recovery. > > Angus MacKay, the finance minister, said a comprehensive review of > the law of diligence was underway and a parliamentary working group > would report in June 2001. Mr Sheridan and the SNP have refused to > take any further part in the group as they claim its remit is simply > to provide a replacement which will amount to warrant sales by > another name. > > But Mr MacKay insisted they were seeking a "humane and workable" > alternative, but added: "There are unfortunately some people who > refuse to pay their debts although able to do so, until they are > forced to do so. There must be no loopholes in the law through which > these people can slip.". > > Tory leader David McLetchie pledged to continue to work with the > parliamentary group to find a suitable alternative. > > The bill is expected to get royal assent early in the new year. > > -Dec 7th ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
