Borders MP brands protest outside Hawick office as vandalism

As part of a nationwide silent protest by Extinction Rebellion, several of its supporters in the Borders staged a demonstration outside the Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk MP’s office in High Street from noon yesterday, September 1.

They then stuck up campaign posters across the whole length of the office’s front window, but they were removed after they left.

Their aim, they say, was to encourage the public to lobby their MPs in support of a proposed new parliamentary bill on climate change and ecological emergency.

At the time of that protest, Mr Lamont was in London and his office was closed due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Conservative MP was unimpressed by the group’s action, branding it vandalism.

The 44-year-old said: “I am committed to tackling climate change. The UK became the first major developed country to legislate to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

“As we recover from coronavirus, it is important that we build back better and greener to achieve this target.

“It is a shame that Extinction Rebellion decided to vandalise my office on Hawick High Street. I doubt that these tactics change many minds.

“Organisations like these should concentrate on shifting public opinion rather than defacing our high streets.”

Most people posting on social media sites also disagreed with the activists’ action.

One, Mark Brotherston, said: “I hope they get charged with vandalism. There are other ways of getting your point across.”

The campaign group believes that if the parliamentary bill becomes law it will offer a real opportunity to avoid a climate change catastrophe.

A spokesperson said: “Experts estimate only 10 years remain for us to put things right to reverse the damage caused by uncontrolled excessive global industrial growth and restore some balance.”