Slum landlords

IN March 1999 James Fraser and his friend Daniel Hero were tragically killed after a fire broke out in their basement flat on Melrose Street in Glasgow.

A sheriff ruled the young men would likely have all lived if there had been a working smoke alarm and if they were not sealed into the house with metal bars over the windows.

Glasgow Times:

During a fatal accident inquiry in 2001, Harpal Singh, 64, from Newlands, was found to be lying under oath about smoke detectors being in the property and was sent to prison for 30 months. A subsequest campaign by investigative reporter Allan Caldwell led to the introduction of a licensing scheme for multiple occupancy flats.

Hospital closures

We took action after NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde announced plans in 2003 to shut the Queen Mum’s maternity hospital and Yorkhill children’s hospital.

The plan to separate them sparked a massive public protest, spearheaded by the Evening Times, and provoked a backlash against NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde management.

Glasgow Times:

While both hospitals closed, our efforts led to a commitment from the Scottish Government that this vital link was preserved. The new Royal Hospital for Children was built on the same site as the new maternity hospital on the QEUH site.

Rogue Factors

In 2008 we ran a successful campaign targeting unscrupulous property factors. We highlighted shoddy and shameful practices, from excessive charges and expensive repairs to poor workmanship. Following the campaign, Maryhill and Springburn MSP Patricia Ferguson’s Factors Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament.

Life-saving change

We led a six-year fight calling for a change to Scotland’s organ donation system that had resulted in an increase in transplants in other European countries.

Finally on June 11, 2019, the Scottish Government agreed to switch to an opt-out system, whereby consent is assumed unless a person has registered an objection in their lifetime.

Glasgow Times:

We took up the campaign after learning that up to 90% of Scots supported organ donation but less than half had taken the time to sign up to the organ donor register. The new law will come into force in the Autumn.

Drug death action

Stark figures showing that 280 lives were lost in Glasgow in 2018 due to drug addiction led to an plea for urgent action.

We called on the leaders of the UK Government to meet with Scottish ministers and council leaders and help devise new strategies to tackle soaring overdose deaths.

Glasgow Times:

Our call was answered after Westminster agreed to host a Glasgow summit on February 27, chaired by Kit Malthouse, Minister for Crime, Policing and the Fire Service.