Tommy Brennan

Tommy Brennan MBE (20 August 1932 – 27 January 2022) was a Scottish trade unionist and political activist. A member of the Labour Party,[1] Brennan was widely known for being the convenor of shop stewards at Ravenscraig steelworks. He led the fight 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]

For other people named Thomas Brennan, see Thomas Brennan (disambiguation).

Brennan was born in Carfin, Lanarkshire on 20 August 1932, as the middle of three brothers.[6] He received an MBE in the 1991 New Year Honours.[7][8]

When asked in 2013 to comment on the death of Margaret Thatcher, who had been accused of betraying steel workers in government,[9] 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."[10]

Brennan latterly re-emerged as a proponent of Scottish independence, ahead of the country's referendum.[11]

Brennan died on 27 January 2022, at the age of 89.[6]

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. "Tommy Brennan obituary". The Times. 4 February 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2022.
  7. "No Headline Present". The Herald. 31 December 1991. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  8. Ritchie, Murray (10 January 1992). "Heavy going that makes you want to Chuck it". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  9. Gray, Iain (21 May 1990). "Thatcher accused of steel betrayal". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  10. Smith, Ken (18 April 2013). "Shelling out". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
  11. Currie, Brian (26 May 2012). "A-listers and well-wishers line up for independence". The Herald. Retrieved 17 June 2014.
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