London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

NEWS CANCELED: UK papers apologize for delayed issues as Extinction Rebellion blocks Rupert Murdoch’s printing presses

NEWS CANCELED: UK papers apologize for delayed issues as Extinction Rebellion blocks Rupert Murdoch’s printing presses

The Times apologized to its readers, who couldn’t get their newspapers on time on Saturday, while The Sun labeled the blocking of printing presses by Extinction Rebellion climate protestors “an attack on all the free press.”

More than a hundred climate activists used vehicles and bamboo structures to block roads leading to Newsprinters’ print works in Broxbourne in Hertfordshire, Knowsley in Merseyside and near Motherwell in Scotland’s North Lanarkshire on Friday.

The presses in question print newspapers owned by Australian-born American media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, including The Sun and The Times, as well as some other national papers such as the Daily Mail, Daily Telegraph and Financial Times.

Police officers arrested 72 people as they worked to restore access to the sites. The action, which was branded a “success” by the activists, saw many papers delayed in getting to their readers the following morning.
Extinction Rebellion said they targeted Murdoch’s newspapers because they were “polluting the national debate on climate change” and obfuscating other important issues, such as the refugee crisis.

The group is against a foreign billionaire being the biggest owner of the UK media, its spokesman, Rupert Read said on Twitter, arguing that a free press is impossible when it’s controlled by “a handful of hard-Right oligarchs.”

The Times apologized to its readers for the inconvenience on Twitter, saying it was trying to get its papers to retailers as soon as possible.


“This is an attack on all the free press,” the Sun tabloid said of the actions of Extinction Rebellion in its statement. That opinion was shared by British Home Secretary Priti Patel.

But many commentators online argued that the Sun has nothing do with a free press and blasted Murdoch as “a climate-change-denying billionaire.” They celebrated the fact that copies of his paper weren’t appearing on newsagents’ shelves, with the #dontbuythesun hashtag trending on Twitter in the UK.


The blocking of the printing presses occurred as part of a 10-day “disruption” organized by Extinction Rebellion with the aim of pressuring British MPs to support an emergency climate bill that would force the government to account for the country’s “entire carbon footprint while actively conserving nature here and overseas.”

The action has already seen well-attended marches in London and Manchester, as well as activists gluing themselves to the pavement outside Parliament.

Disruptive demonstrations and news-making stunts are a trademark of Extinction Rebellion protesters, who have been blocking traffic and hampering the work of government institutions in the UK, the US, Australia and elsewhere in recent years.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×