Union chief Jimmy Reid suffers stroke

Reid became the voice of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders

Veteran shipyard union leader Jimmy Reid is being treated in hospital after a suspected stroke.

Mr Reid, who celebrated his 70th birthday last month, led the famous work-in at Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in the early 1970s.

He was taken ill at Glasgow's Queen Street station on Wednesday and was taken to the city's Royal Infirmary.

His condition was described as stable.

Mr Reid brought the British Government's attention to the Scottish shipbuilding industry by organising a work-in of the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders in 1971.

The communist shop-steward helped to reverse the government's decision to close the ship yards.

Edward Heath took a U-turn and announced a £35m injection of cash into the yards at Govan, Scotstoun and Linthouse.

Within three years, shipbuilding on the Upper Clyde had received around £101m of public grants and credits, with £20m going to the UCS.

Mr Reid gained support for his cause from celebrities such as John Lennon.