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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