Robinson successfully defended his school from closure, fought for the unification of the teaching unions, mentored future trade union leaders and transformed teaching at the Marx Memorial Library, writes JOHN FOSTER

SCOTLAND’S Children’s Hearings System has stood the test of time. Devised following the Kilbrandon report in the 1960s as an alternative to sending young people to court, they have worked for over 50 years to safeguard successive generations.
One of the distinctive features of the system is the use of a lay panel to make decisions on a child’s best interests.
Every so often there have been attempts to remove this element. They have always been stoutly and successfully resisted.

As bus builder Alexander Dennis threatens Falkirk closure and Grangemouth faces ruthless shutdown by tax exile Jim Ratcliffe, RICHARD LEONARD MSP warns that global corporations must be resisted by a bold industrial strategy based on public ownership


