MP backs jail sentence for activists involved in Glasgow arms factory damage

MP Luke Akehurst has expressed his support for prison sentences for five pro-Palestinian activists who caused more than £1 million of damage during a protest at a Glasgow arms factory.

Militants targeted the Thales UK building in Govan on 1 June 2022, causing significant disruption and panic among workers.

Akehurst, MP for North Durham, commented on the court’s decision, saying: “I welcome the court’s decision to impose an appropriate prison sentence, which I hope will deter extremists from committing such acts of vandalism in the future. Everyone has the right to protest peacefully, but not to resort to violence, which has caused over £1 million of damage to a company carrying out vital national security work and put its employees at risk.”

The activists, identified as Stuart Bretherton (25), Eva Simmons (25), Calum Lacy (23), Erica Hygate (23) and Sumaya Javaid (22), were sentenced to prison terms ranging from 12 to 14 months.

The group had scaled the roof of the Thales UK building, unfurled banners, set off fireworks and even thrown a smoke bomb into an area where staff were being evacuated.

The incident, which caused panic among workers, was described by Glasgow Crown Court as violent and dangerous.

Sheriff John McCormick, who presided over the trial, rejected the activists’ claims that their actions were not violent. He pointed to the extensive damage caused, including to key parts of the submarines, and the confusion and panic among evacuated personnel.

The total damage was estimated at £1,130,783, with the site closed for safety reasons.

Akehurst’s support for the conviction underscores his position on balancing the right to protest with the importance of maintaining public safety and protecting critical national infrastructure. The case also highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding protests against companies linked to military production, even when those links are indirect or disputed.

Thales’s British site in Glasgow, part of a French company known for making military equipment, is a frequent target of activists because of its partnerships with Israeli companies. Thales has denied, however, that components made at the Glasgow site are supplied to the Israeli military. Despite this, the site remains a focal point for protests, such as the one that led to the recent convictions.