FROM: THE SUNDAY HERALD, Publication Date: Dec 24 2000 Tommy Sheridan's prison diary (Scottish Socialist Party Member of Scottish Parliament) Scotland's favourite socialist chronicled his time inside Sunday December 17 I've now been "lying low" for two days. Strathclyde's finest advised me that the warrant for my arrest was now "live" on Friday morning. They accept I'm handing myself in tonight but if seen meanwhile I could be arrested. I couldn't even go to Falkirk to campaign for big Iain [Hunter, Scottish Socialist candidate for Thursday's by- election]. Gail's in her element. Two days stuck in the house - cleaning, scrubbing, putting up decorations. I'm beginning to think she's in collusion with the police. We reflect on my impending visit to the pokey over a fry-up. Gail was there [at Faslane] on February 14. I was one of the 185 arrests. We were charged with breach of the peace. We were trying to blockade the trident nuclear submarine base. These missiles are the most deadly, destructive and inhumane weapons ever created. Their use would mean the end of humanity. Their possession was declared illegal by the International Court of Justice in 1996. We were acting in peace to fight for peace but we were the ones arrested. Why not Blair, Cook and General George Robertson? They're the real threat to peace. I said I wouldn't pay any fine if found guilty in court. I said it in February and repeated it in November. It's crap timing, but that's incidental. There is no way I'm going back on my word. Politicians who believe in a nuclear free Scotland have to start turning their words into actions. I set off for Dumbarton Police Station around 5pm. I stop off to collect a well-appreciated "award" in the Clutha Vaults pub before attending a Falkirk by-election rally. It's our fifth public meeting of the campaign. It's well attended. The spirits are high. Dennis Canavan was invited to speak. He didn't. I'm disappointed. We drive to Dumbarton. We get lost. It's pouring. We find it. Almost 100 supporters have turned up to see me off. Brilliant. Songs, chants and good wishes all round. Nuclear disarmament must be forced back onto the political agenda. Jobs, hospitals and schools must come before bombs. World peace is impossible without decommissioning these weapons. Into the police cell. Cold, wet and tired. But my spirits are high. I'm not alone in my beliefs. Early rise. Allowed to sloosh my face with water. Handcuffed. Lead from the cell to a waiting police van. The two cops are friendly and talkative. The journey is quick. I become aware of loads of hills. We must be in Greenock. Out of the van and into reception. As in Saughton and Barlinnie previously this is always the most humiliating experience. Strip off, get showered, bend over for an anal inspection. All in front of complete strangers. No prison uniform. I'm surprised. I have to put my own clothes back on minus my boots. Into A Hall. Remand, short- term and transitory wing. My prison number 32057. My call number is 23. A single cell. Good. The last couple of times I was doubled up. Both the officers and the cons are initially friendly. Obviously I'm still nervous and apprehensive, but sometimes you've got to do certain things. Over to the medical centre. Sort of psychoanalysis. Drugs questioning. Over 80% of admissions have a drug habit - mostly heroin. Prison assesses all admissions and prescribes suitable medicine if necessary. Meet more cons and officers. Very supportive. Back to cell. Look around. A WC bowl, a sink, an iron bed and a small TV. This is progress. But it's bogg ing and it's freezing. I get the mop and the brush. There's not much I can do about the toilet or the temperature. Scotland is now the only country in Europe that still allows "slopping out". The Bar-L and part of Saughton provide plastic basins for urine and human waste. It represents a definite human advance. I'm in "Induction". Effectively suicide watch. Everyone goes through it. So should I. Feel embarrassed about how cold I am. I must be bloody soft. A product of parliamentary pampering. Overwhelmed by kindness from cons. Tea bags, milk, coffee, sugar, phonecard, good wishes. Man at gate with £250. Want to pay fine. Reception contact me. No way. Ask him to donate it to the Party and thank him. Watch TV debate. Alan McCoombes does very well. I wish I was there. Still cold. Keep polo neck jumper on in bed. Didn't sleep well. Combination of noise and coldness. Some guys are obviously coming off substances. They shout and bang their cell doors often. I'm still cold. I'll have to toughen up. Door opened at 7am. Breakfast. A polythene bag with some crispies, a roll, butter and a quart of milk. I'm absolutely knackered but I hear the immortal word - football! It's the Christmas competition. I jump at the chance for a game. I've no gear. The PE officers help me out. They are very friendly and very motivated. Names in a hat. Thirty cons. All shapes and sizes. Many have been through the wars. Some have taken a few second prizes. Everyone is genuinely friendly and helpful. Gary, John and Marcello are in my team. Marcello is Argentinian. He is nicknamed Castro. It should be Che. He is a definite Guevara look- a-like. The other lad is English. He confesses he was once on Leeds United's books. We are over the moon. He is our secret weapon. We play five games. We are gubbed in four of them. Our only win comes courtesy of a disputed penalty. The budding Leeds star is consigned to goalie after two games. It was obviously the chess club he was talking about. I am slightly consoled by the fact that the star man in the winning team comes from Pollok. I reflect. How sad. A great talent but in the nick. Back to my cell. More human solidarity. Crisps, juice, papers, more tea bags. Gail visits. She looks gorgeous as always. Says my hair looks thicker. At last a solution to my baldness. Prison! Everyone sends their love. Back to the cell. Two attempted suicides last night. No wonder there was so much noise. Attend induction classes. Hear about listening scheme where lifers help out with new cons. A good initiative. Watch platform special. Iain does well. His honesty shines through. Still cold. Woke at 6.30am. Spy-hole checked. Polythene breakfast delivered at 7am. Still bloody cold. Faxes brought in. Messages of support from all over. Officer jokes that machine is jammed. Over 40 faxes, including 10 from England. Hopefully the flickering flame of opposition to nuclear weapons will become a towering inferno. The peace camp, Scottish CND and [Trident] Ploughshares have struggled on valiantly for years. They deserve support. Coaxed into weight lifting competition. Some of the lads are very strong. I fluke third place in the A Hall category. I win a phonecard. My back is now snookered, but what the hell. Back to cell. Collected lunch. Mince and tatties look-a-like. Nothing ever tastes as good from these plastic plates and cutlery. More solidarity. Offers of tea bags, milk, phone cards. Officer brings my first batch of mail. He is genuinely impressed, although pissed off - 67 cards and letters. Problem is, he has to open every one in front of me. Checking for drugs and maybe a file of iron. None. But loads of humbling and inspirational messages. Workplaces, colleges, pensioners' groups. Individuals like Mary and Eric who wrote: "We wish to express our solidarity with you in your stand against nuclear weapons. We have been members of CND since 1958. Mary was arrested at Ardrossan Pier protesting against Polaris in the early 1960s." Many mention the February 12 blockade next year. It's definitely going to be big. It's a challenge to every politician who is opposed to nuclear weapons. Every MEP, MP, MSP, Councillor, if you genuinely support a nuclear-free Scotland join the peaceful blockade at 7am on February 12. You don't have to get arrested, but at least be there! Slept better, no doubt encouraged by admissions from other cons in hall that they are also freezing. Thank goodness. Maybe I've not gone soft after all. Deputy governor visits me around 8am. I'm still in my scratcher. It's the warmest place in the cell. The media have been on to him. They want in to take photos. No chance. Quite right. Many have phoned to pay my fine. Some paper alleges I phoned them from a mobile phone inside. Not this time. I'm an ordinary con, not a civied prisoner standing for election. I've to be let out at 8.30am. I decide to wear a T-shirt sent in. Modelled on the Scottish Tourist Board's "Scotland". This one reads: "Scotland - nuclear FREE". Brilliant. An improved version by far. Take part in short-tennis competition. Over 30 take part. The PE guys do a great job. I'm gubbed again. All the boys wish me well. Many wish they were getting out for Christmas. I feel very lucky. Back to No 23. More cards, faxes and letters. Seventy in total. A tear rises in my eye as I read some of the messages. I'm genuinely humbled, but very inspired. Gail faxes to say she is inundated with phone calls and people in the street passing on their support. I receive a card from the peace camp. They are peace warriors. Real heroes and heroines. I read some press comments. Apparently I am in here as part of a by- election or publicity stunt. By-election stunt? How puny are these people's minds? I was arrested in February. I decided my intention to pay no fine. I was sentenced in November. I repeated my intention. Then Labour organise a by-election on December 21. A disgraceful decision. I should read tea-cups for a living. I knew in February there would be a by-election in December. Oh, and by the way I believe Elvis is still alive and we have a free press in this country. Aye right! Meet more prison staff. Special programme leader working on anger counselling, alcohol awareness and parenting skills. Drugs worker. Her task is well nigh impossible when so many return to poverty and deprivation. Tackling chaotic drug use will require a war on poverty as well as an overhaul of our pathetic drugs laws which are part of the problem, not the solution. A war on poverty? Wouldn't that be nice. That would definitely be worth enlisting for. Using the £1 billion a year we currently spend on inhumane and illegal nuclear weapons for socially useful purposes instead would deliver five times more jobs, new hospitals, homes and schools and a more peaceful world. What a great idea at Christmas. Another attempted suicide in the hall. Shoelaces around the guy's neck. The officer gets to him in time. The officers are angry. They are public servants, but much ignored. They fear privatisation. So do the cons. I hear Kilmarnock [Scotland's only privately run prison] is a disaster. Regular stabbings and assaults covered up. Bullies rule the roost. Officers replaced by cameras. Drugs freely available. Over 20 staff resigned. We must take Kilmarnock into public ownership and rule out any further privatisation of the prison service. Ya Beauty. We've done it again. Another great result for the Scottish Socialist Party. I'm as proud as can be. Just over two years old and we've recorded out 11th victory over the Liberal Democrats in 14 contests since May 1999. We've beat them in council elections in Edinburgh and Elgin, Scottish parliament elections in Anniesland and Ayr and now Westminster elections in Hamilton and Falkirk West. The trend is clear. The SSP is the new force in Scottish politics. We are making steady and significant progress. One man band party? How good were Colin Fox and Rosie Kane on the box? They knocked the other parties for six. Honest, socialist conviction shone through. Iain Hunter was a great local candidate and against all the odds, despite not getting an endorsement from Dennis Canavan we won fourth place and saved our deposit. I can hardly sleep. Genuine socialism is firmly on the political menu at last. I awake knackered. But hey, I'm outta here! Goodbye cold cell. Goodbye iron doors. Thanks to all the cons who treated me well and with respect. It was much appreciated. And thanks to the prison officers. I don't envy their job one bit. They are too often undervalued and under paid. They were genuinely kind and warm to me. They treated me like a fellow human being, as they appeared to treat the other cons. I think they get respect in return from 99% of those they lock up and supervise. It's great to see Gail and hug her. I contact my mum, dad and grannies as soon as possible. I show off the "amended" T-shirt. I hope it catches on. "Scotland - nuclear free" - sounds good to me. I have a lovely bath. I feel warm again. We have the Christmas party for the SSP tonight. I've done my sentence. But it doesn't end there. I'll be at Faslane on February 12. I'll continue the campaign for nuclear disarmament. If it means another prison sentence, so be it. World peace is worth fighting for. In the words of the song sent to me by a well-wisher: "Someday at Christmas men will not fail/Hate will be gone and love will prevail/ Someday a new world that we can start/With hope in every heart." Well said Stevie Wonder. Happy Christmas to you all and let's have peace in 2001. ===========================================
