In his regular column for the Hereford Times, North Herefordshire MP Bill Wiggin says Extinction Rebellion's blockade of newspaper printers at the weekend was misguided

PROTESTS from the Extinction Rebellion group across the UK went too far when they prevented the publication of our newspapers.

I have long argued for a properly regulated press but never to close the papers down.

Three thousand protesters, some of whom ironically flew in from as far as Canada, also marched on Parliament Square.

I take environmental issues most seriously, and want our Government to act on as many positive and constructive steps as possible, but the actions of this group – from disrupting workers to leaving plastic bottles on Parliament Square – does nothing to endear people to their message.

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Perhaps the statue of Gandhi in Parliament Square might have inspired them to be, as he said, “The change they wish to see in the world”.

Another key issue facing the Government is the levels of illegal Channel crossings.

Last week saw a record number of migrants arrive on our shores in little rubber boats.

These people are coming from France, where they are not in any danger and are making themselves very vulnerable. Choosing to break our laws while paying money to traffickers who exploit them.

More worryingly, France appears to be doing little to help combat this potentially fatal activity.

Everything about this is wrong, and more must be done to discourage these people risking their lives by crossing the channel.

The EU, too, is not behaving in the way we would have hoped for. We have paid into their coffers for 46 years and yet they think we deserve an inferior trade deal to Canada!

Negotiations stall once more, and they seem to not care about the prospect of a no-deal Brexit. Yet parity with Canada seems a fair request.

Residents of Fownhope and surrounding areas remain desperate for the repair works to the B4224 to be completed.

The fact remains that Herefordshire Council funded other projects such as the purchase of the Maylord Shopping Centre.

It may say that this was money from a different budget, but with each day the road remains shut this decision looks increasingly foolish.

I have reopened my office in Leominster following the lockdown as we need to get back to work and be available to help.

There are Covid safety measures in place ready to protect both staff and constituents and we are pleased to be open to assist once again.

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