Tommy Brennan

For other people named Thomas Brennan, see Thomas Brennan (disambiguation).

Tommy Brennan is a Scottish political activist and a former member of the Labour Party.[1] He is widely known for being the convenor of shop stewards at Ravenscraig steelworks and leader of the fight to try to save the Scottish steel industry in the 1980s and 1990s[2] until he was made redundant in 1991, shortly before Ravenscraig's infamous closure.[3] He worked at the plant for a total of 31 years.[4][5]

He received an MBE in the 1991 New Year Honours.[6][7]

When asked in 2013 to comment on the death of Margaret Thatcher, who had been accused of betraying steel workers in government,[8] Brennan said: "I have a simple philosophy in life that if you look at every bad situation you may find a little plus there. The one plus I could find about Thatcher was that she brought salmon back to the Clyde – she closed all the industry on either side of it so they couldn't pollute it."[9]

Brennan has re-emerged recently as a proponent of Scottish independence, ahead of the country's upcoming referendum.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "20th anniversary of Ravenscraig closure". Scottish National Party. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  2. ↑ "Election news in brief: SNP wins over two key supporters". The Scotsman. 21 April 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Brennan, Tommy (7 August 2013). "Comment: Manufacturing a stronger community for all". The Scotsman. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  4. ↑ "Thatcher remembered: The Ravenscraig leader Tommy Brennan". STV News. 17 April 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  5. ↑ "Independence 'right choice for Scottish Labour Party'". Yes Scotland. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  6. ↑ "No Headline Present". The Herald. 31 December 1991. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Ritchie, Murray (10 January 1992). "Heavy going that makes you want to Chuck it". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Gray, Iain (21 May 1990). "Thatcher accused of steel betrayal". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  9. ↑ Smith, Ken (18 April 2013). "Shelling out". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  10. ↑ Currie, Brian (26 May 2012). "A-listers and well-wishers line up for independence". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
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