HOV Meeting at Scottish Parliament

While the Scottish Parliament had the pleasure of listening to Prince Charles waffling on about something, in the same building for the first time ever a Venezuelan revolutionary was talking about the need for the World Socialist Revolution. It was certainly a refreshing speech by Jose Antonio Hernandez on his third day in Scotland, and the event will have enormously helped to strengthen the Hands Off Venezuela campaign.

The meeting was hosted by Frances Curran, SSP MSP and organised by Barbara Scott, a Parliamentary assistant for the SSP Group. Hands Off Venezuela would like to use this opportunity to thank them and all the other MSP's that have supported us.

After showing Jose Antonio Hernandez and members of HOV around Parliament, a press conference was held, which 20 people attended, including 5 MSP's from three different parties. Frances Curran (who chaired the meeting) and Rosie Kane from the SSP, Mark Ballard and Chris Ballance from the Greens and Elaine Smith from the Labour Party intervened. All the MSP's present were enthused by the range of the social reforms being carried out in Venezuela and how these are improving the lives of millions of people. Elaine Smith even proposed a cross party group on Venezuela.

Jose Antonio Hernández gave a brief outline of the situation in Venezuela and raised with the MSP's the need for international solidarity. He explained the case of the Union of Retail Pharmaceutical Proletarians in the company RACE. All those attending took on board their demands and promised to send solidarity messages and try to put the campaign on the floor of the Scottish Parliament.

So far the Scottish Parliament has seen two motions presented on Venezuela. One from Rosie Kane, SSP(Glasgow), S2M-2576, against the assassination plots by the US government and another by Frances Curran (West of Scotland), S2M-3968, highlighting the social developments that have been achieved in Venezuela and the need to denounce the attacks from internal and external opponents. (You can read the motions on the website of the Scottish Parliament).

The visit to Holyrood was the highlight of a very successful speaking tour that should boost the development of Hands Off Venezuela and strengthen the ties between Venezuelan and Scottish revolutionaries.