A SCOTTISH Greens minister has said his breach of the peace conviction relates to non-violent protest action understood to have occurred at the Faslane nuclear submarine base.
Following the publication of a register of ministerial interests uncovered by The Herald, it was revealed that Scottish Government minister Patrick Harvie has previously been convicted for breach of the peace.
Harvie revealed: "I have previously taken part in a number of nonviolence direct action protests, and have once been convicted of breach of the peace in relation to such a protest."
It is thought the conviction relates to a protest at Faslane in Helensburgh, as Harvie has taken part in numerous demonstrations at the MOD nuclear base.
The list of ministerial interests had not previously been seen by the public and was obtained following a Freedom of Information request by The Herald.
Ministers are required to declare “all interests which might be thought to give rise to a conflict in relation to their Ministerial office”.
But while the register of interests for MSPs was available for the public to view, the ministerial list was not.
As well as Harvie’s arrest, the list showed that Nicola Sturgeon highlighted her husband Peter Murrell’s share of a house in Portugal.
She said: “A share of a house in Portugal is owned by my husband but is not leased or rented out and so I would not consider it relevant to Ministerial interests."
Culture Secretary Angus Robertson also revealed that his wife’s PR company, which includes whisky clients, ruled him out of making decisions regarding alcohol and a proposed ban on its advertising.
