The Presiding Officer, David Steel, could only bluster his indignation as protesters shouted anti war slogans and denounced the unrepresentative and powerless Scottish parliament. Jack McConnell at first ignored the protests, but after the third interruption he had the cheek to suggest that neo-Labour are handling the "terrorist threat" in an acceptible way. Such statements are nothing new from McConnell - earlier in the proceedings he had attacked the SNP for taking an anti-war stance (a stance shared by the majority of the Scottish people).

However, none of the political parties came out of today's events looking good. Three times, the protesters asked MSPs who supported them to stand up and say so. Every single politico ignored the requests. Tommy Sheridan, leader of the SSP, was personally asked to stand up as he has been so outspoken against the war. His response? "Sit down boy". Not that this was possible for the protesters, who were "asked to leave" by security and had their details taken by the police.

Today's protest follows a similar reclamation of parliament two weeks ago. Everyone protesting today believed that the Scottish Parliament, though going through the motions of debating the war on Iraq, is not doing enough to stop this evil war - legally, it doesn't even have any powers over defence. The anarchists present believed that this is just a symptom of a toothless parliament which does not truly represent the people of Scotland and has no right to speak in our name and silence our protests.

Only widespread civil disobedience can stop this war and make a better society. We have a great opportunity now, when the government is facing huge opposition to its racist and imperialist policies. Let's not waste it.

Glasgow Anarchists