As thousands flock to the capital to march against Trident nuclear weapons tomorrow (Saturday), veteran political cartoonist Bob Starrett has recalled the first protest against submarine-based nuclear weapons in Scotland.

Mr Starrett, proud Glaswegian, former shipyard worker, cartoonist and film set designer who lives in the Barbican, told the Tribune of the time he was arrested and held incommunicado for four days following a march against the Polaris nuclear submarine base at Holy Loch in 1961.

“These nuclear warheads came without consultation of the Scottish population. We felt this was illegal,” he said.

“It was a non-violent protest because we felt that if things turned violent we would lose the argument. But many were arrested and when they came out four days later some found out they’d lost their jobs.”

Almost 55 years on, the 77-year-old maintains his opposition to nuclear weapons, over the decades expressed in his satirical cartoons in countless publications, including this newspaper.

“The only reason Britain has Trident is so the establishment can sit at the top table with the big boys,” Mr Starrett said. “We are going to spend a fortune on that?”

Following the 1961 protest Sir Compton Mackenzie, the author and lifelong Scottish nationalist, who was sympathetic to the cause, paid the Young Communist League member’s £20 fine – a lot of money at the time – and he avoided prison. “It politicised me more than anything else at that point in my life,” Mr Starrett said.

A decade on, his political cartoons would reach millions during the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders work-in, which ran from 1971 to 1972. The yards were facing closure after Edward Heath’s Tory government refused state support for what they called “lame duck” industries.

However, union leaders outflanked the government by organising a “work-in”, rather than a strike, to demonstrate the viability of the yards.

Mr Starrett, a shipyard painter, played an important role in the dispute as the workers’ official cartoonist, providing drawings and sketches for pamphlets and publicity material.

The work-in strategy was successful and the shipyard workers gained huge public sympathy, forcing the Heath government to relent and restructure the yards around two new companies.

“There was no violence, no rioting. We were politically astute enough to see that that would divert attention away from our cause,” Mr Starrett said. “To see working-class people articulate their arguments, even taking them to the Oxford Union – the feeling was tremendous. It was the last time the [British] working class had such a victory.”

Asked whether he believes the tide against Trident is turning following the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the Labour Party, the cartoonist said: “Jeremy Corbyn is the nicest guy but he’s hampered by the Parliamentary Labour Party. He said you could have submarines without the nuclear warheads on them, but we should just get rid of it. The argument is simple: do you want an NHS or do you want Trident?”

Mr Starrett plied his trade in a variety of locations, including working as a set designer on films in Britain and Hollywood. He lives with partner Lindy Hemming, the Oscar-winning film costume designer. They met in Glasgow on the set of the Scottish comedy Comfort and Joy more than 30 years ago.

The Way I See It, a collection of short stories, tales and cartoons by Mr Starrett, was published in 2013 and is available on Amazon. The foreword is by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Two films about the Upper Clyde shipyard dispute will be shown at the Marx Memorial Library tomorrow (Saturday) from 3pm.

Stop Trident protesters will gather at Marble Arch at noon before marching to Trafalgar Square. Mr Corbyn will speak there alongside Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.

• Keywords
  POLITICAL CARTOONS, NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT
• Persons keyword
  Bob Starrett