THE right to protest is a cornerstone of any modern democracy, including the UK.

It really is fundamental and must always be protected, as there should always be room in our society for legitimate groups to have their voices heard.

Many of the freedoms we take for granted today have been borne out of protest which, by definition, will often be contrary to the law of the land.

However, it’s hard to have much sympathy with the tactics employed by the Insulate Britain movement, who have been plaguing commuters on the M25 for the last couple of weeks.

Their cause may well resonate with many, but stopping tens of thousands of hard-working folk going about their lawful business doesn’t feel right.

Of course you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs, but when a pensioner suffers a life-changing stroke while stuck in traffic, enough is enough