Katy Gordon and Robert Brown MSP campaigning with parents from Wyndford Primary
Liberal Democrat Justice spokesperson and MSP for Glasgow Robert Brown has attacked Glasgow City Council’s decision to use CCTV cameras in Glasgow to target school protesters occupying Wyndford Primary School in Maryhill.
It is claimed that the CCTV cameras, installed to improve safety at nearby flats, have been turned to cover the school entrance and to monitor who goes in and out of the school.
It is understood that the CCTV cameras are the property of Cube Housing Association which are administered through Glasgow City Council’s CCTV monitoring centre but are not actually the property of the council.
Commenting, Mr Brown said:
“This is a civil protest, not a criminal issue.
“It is completely unacceptable if the Council have made use of CCTV cameras, put in place to protect the local community, to breach the civil liberties of members of that same community.
“The redirection of the cameras, away from the flats they were installed to monitor, will compromise the security of these homes. The Council’s action is excessive, unwarranted and a breach of civil liberties.
“People in Wyndford feel strongly about the fact that the heart is being torn out of their local community with the closure of both schools in the area.
“I am writing to the leader of Glasgow City Council, as a matter of urgency, demanding an explanation of the situation. I will also be raising this matter with Scottish Ministers. There are serious questions arising as to the proper use of CCTV cameras when they are used not to deter crime but to target protesters.
Glasgow North Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson Katy Gordon added:
“The Council are treating the Wyndford parents like criminals. This sort of “big brother” tactic is excessive and out of place in a local dispute like this.”
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg MP today joined Glasgow North challenger Katy Gordon and top Liberal Democrat Euro candidate George Lyon on a visit to the Coach House Trust.
The Coach House Trust has received funding from the European Union and Mr Lyon wants more projects that provide vital support and services for their local community to benefit from European help.
Commenting, Mr. Lyon said:
“During the economic slowdown it is vital we get banks lending to businesses and help hard up families by reducing the tax burden. But we must not forget the work done by social enterprises like the Coach House Trust that provide invaluable services for the local community.
“The Coach House Trust is a success story but there are many more like it that are struggling. We cannot allow these projects to fold.
“I will fight for the funding needed to ensure that more projects like the Coach House Trust thrive despite the economic challenges ahead.”
Local challenger Katy Gordon added:
“The Coach House Trust is exactly the sort of social enterprise we need to encourage to help people get the skills and training needed to get back into work.
“We must work our way out of Labor’s recession. Nick Clegg and Vince Cable have led from the front in overcoming the economic downturn. Liberal Democrats will create the jobs needed to get Scotland moving again.
“By electing George Lyon to fight for Scotland in Europe and then by electing a Liberal Democrat MP in Glasgow North we can begin to reverse the decade of decline under Labour.”
Liberal Democrats fully expect the Glasgow North East by election caused by Speaker Michael Martin resigning as the MP to be another demonstration of how disillusioned and betrayed former Labour supporters are across Glasgow.
“The key issues are how Labour has let down the people of Glasgow, both nationally, by failing to forsee the credit crunch and take preventive measures, and locally, by ignoring widespread protests on school closures. People are fed up with being taken for granted and the scandal of MP expenses has only fuelled their determination for change.”
Katy Gordon is the Liberal Democrat PPC for Glasgow North. Katy and the Liberal Democrats are just 3338 votes away from taking the seat from Labour in Glasgow North. With your support, Glasgow North could have a Lib Dem MP at the next General Election.
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