I find it telling that our new Green MP Caroline Lucas was “unavailable for comment” in the excellent report of the Smash EDO protest (The Argus, October 14).
This is the same Caroline Lucas who publicly supported the actions of the eight demonstrators who caused almost £200,000 worth of criminaal damage to the EDO factory last year. The fact that the factory is in her own constituency and employs local people makes her condoning of the violence and criminal activity even worse.
And since the judge, who presided over the trial of the protesters, has been officially reprimanded for the political nature of his summing up in the case, the Smash EDO “cause” seems to be rapidly unravelling before her eyes.
I find it appalling that £1m of taxpayers’ money has been spent in the past two years policing these demonstrations – and even more worrying that Caroline Lucas thinks this is justified. A large part of this expense could have been avoided if only Smash EDO had engaged with the perfectly reasonable requests made by the police for co-operation.
If Caroline Lucas really cares about the hard-working residents and taxpayers of the city of Brighton, I would urge her to use the influence that she clearly has with Smash EDO to get them to speak to the police before the next demonstration. This ridiculous situation has to stop.
Councillor Dawn Barnett
Hangleton and Knoll Ward, Brighton and Hove City Council
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