Local Labour MP and MSP support call for a public inquiry into ICL explosion
September 13th, 2007 | by Martin Rhodes (CLP Secretary) |Local Labour representatives are supporting the campaign for a full public judicial enquiry into the ICL Stockline explosion. ICL Tech Ltd and ICL Plastics Ltd pled guilty and were sentenced in August to a number of charges under health and safety legislation in relation to the explosion at their factory in Glasgow on 11th May 2004 which killed 9 employees and left many seriously injured. However despite the fact that over three years have elapsed this is only the start of the long search for answers as to why such a devastating event could have occurred in the centre of a major city in 21st century modern Britain.
Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin and Maryhill MSP, Patricia Ferguson are working with the Stockline Support Group and the STUC for a full public judicial inquiry. As yet, the families of those who were killed and the employees who survived have still to have access to the huge amount of evidence gathered by the Crown Office and Health and Safety or the ability to question the key players about the events. Over the last three years, Ann and Patricia, have worked closely with the Stockline Support Group and throughout that time their members and many others in the local community have asked that lessons are learnt so that such an event can never occur again. Labour’s Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Peter Hain, accepted an invitation from Ann McKechin to meet with the families of the bereaved and hear their plea for the fullest possible public inquiry that will examine all aspects of the tragedy. Only such an inquiry can give the families the justice they deserve and let Scotland address its shameful record on protecting vulnerable workers.
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