ECO-warriors today descended on the Home Office – just hours after being warned they could face jail if they storm the M25 again.
Insulate Britain activists blocked off a road outside the central London building this afternoon after wreaking havoc on the M25 five times over the course of one week.
A group of elderly men sat in the road with homemade signs with messages such as: “Please act now”.
After causing chaos on the M25, National Highways received an injunction against the eco-warriors.
Grant Shapps said that a judge granted legal action last night. It will be in effect Wednesday.
Protesters could face contempt of court and even jail for continuing to cause havoc, the furious Transport Secretary stated.
He said this to MPs, “We do not believe it is acceptable to stand on a road. It’s dangerous. It is obviously inconvenient. It’s also counterproductive.
“It actually creates pollution to have the traffic standing still… I share the annoyance and anger of motorists and everyone else and I hope the court action I prompted National Highways into is of considerable assistance. ”
Meanwhile, Home Secretary Priti Patel hailed the “important” move and said it will mean “people can get moving” on the busy road again.
We will not leave the motorway until the Government has made a credible statement that we can trust.
Insulate Britain
The pair were said to be “furious” at the eco-activists who ran in front of traffic during yesterday morning’s rush hour.
They told the Daily Mail: “They have broken the law, undermined the cause they believe in, alienated the public, and created extra pollution, in one of the most self-defeating environmental protests this country has ever seen, particularly as we all strive so hard to rebuild after 18 months of the pandemic.
We are working with National Highways and the police to pursue legal action against those who disrupt and threaten people’s lives.
“We are giving them powers to better manage such guerrilla tactics in future.”
In the medium-term, they added that the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill would place public nuisance on a legal footing, ensuring appropriate sentences for any damage done.
‘CAMPAIGN CONTINUES’
In response to the injunction against them, Insulate Britain said their “campaign goes on”.
In a statement, they stated that they didn’t know what the terms were and that the campaign would continue.
“We appreciate that (Home Secretary) Priti Patel is in a difficult position. Like her, our biggest concern is law and order and our national security. In focusing on us, Priti Patel is missing the bigger picture.”
They said that 8,500 people a year die unnecessarily in the UK because of their frozen homes and climate collapse presents an “incalculable threat to our way of life”.
The statement added: “As soon as the Government makes a meaningful statement that we can trust, we will leave the motorway.”
Insulate Britain had previously been targeting the slip roads of the motorway to disrupt motorists.
After clashing against hosts Susanna and Richard Madeley, one eco-activist stormed off Good Morning Britain.
A senior government source said: “Priti and Grant are furious that the lives of the law-abiding majority are continuing to be disrupted by the actions of an extreme minority.”
It comes as furious drivers clashed with the demonstrators who glued themselves to the road and caused traffic chaos.
Yesterday morning protestors ignored police warnings and jumped over the barrier at the hard shoulder, before running into traffic.
While officers attempted to pull them off the carriageway, motorists slowed down and they were unable to stop them from sprawling across the lane to block the M25 at Woking.
In front of the massive tailbacks on the motorway, cops finally removed both activists from the carriageways.
Traffic began to slow down after officers arrested 38 people.
They have broken the law, undermined the cause they believe in, alienated the public, and created extra pollution, in one of the most self-defeating environmental protests this country has ever seen
Priti Patel and Grant Shapps
It was the fifth time that the climate crisis warriors have successfully caused travel chaos across the London orbital and surrounding motorways.
Last week activists blocked one major road carriageway, but they managed to block the other.
Zoe Cohen from the group told LBC: “It’s not about justifying it. Our government is failing British families, this is what we know.
“Thousands of people will die in winter due to fuel poverty. Millions of families will be struggling.
“We hate doing this, we hate doing that – please, please, ask the government for a reasonable statement and help us get off the road. We are not willing to do this.
“If the government met our demands to insulate and retrofit social housing and the rest of the homes in Britain, it would save thousands of lives.”
This is unacceptable behavior.
Kwasi Kwarteng MP
Kwasi Kwarteng calls today’s M25 protest “completely unacceptable” and “very disturbing” adding that he is “surprised” by how the police are handling the protests.
The Conservative MP said: “It is completely unacceptable behavior. Priti Patel really wants to get this issue under control.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable for people to be delaying others who are critically injured and preventing them from getting vital hospital services.”
“Why can’t the police stop this before it begins?
“I think you would have to ask the local police enforcement and officers what is going on there.
“I was surprised as you were to see this happening and certainly I support the Home Secretary in her determination to try to sort this out.
“I was very surprised to see the footage this morning.
“Clearly there is something that is happening between the Home Secretary saying, bringing people together and then actually implementing those instructions, that guidance on the ground.
“That sometimes happens. It is extremely disturbing.
“We have introduced legislation that helps the police do their job.”
He added: “There is an issue with enforcement and that is the problem we have here.”
‘YOU ARE CAUSING MORE POLLUTION
The shameless protesters yesterday offered their “sympathies” for a woman who was paralyzed by a stroke while sitting in the traffic that they caused.
The protesters caused major disruption when they blocked a section of the busy motorway for a week.
The driver, who was furious at the group’s actions, told them: “Why do you think that this is the right thing?
“I get what you’re fighting. This is a good idea. However, it is not the right way to go.
“You’re causing more pollution with all these cars sitting here just doing f*** all.
“You’re making people hate you. Go and protest London, go down to Downing Street.”
Grant Shapps, Transport Secretary has condemned climate protesters who disrupt the M25.
He stated that he thought it was irresponsible and dangerous.
It’s also completely counterproductive because they are actually creating pollution by keeping cars still. So there is no reason for this kind of action.
“I call on them to stop and the police to intervene.”
Downing Street has backed police in taking “swift action” against environmental protesters on the M25.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said: “The police have all our support in swift action.
“That kind of disruption is dangerous and takes police away from communities where they are needed most.”
They added that the forthcoming Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will give officers “the tools they need to address this problem”.
‘PILLOCKS’
Insulate Britain’s spokesman this morning had a spat with talk RADIO presented James Whale over the protest.
James asked what Green Party Cllr Shane Collins was going to do about the “ridiculous” situation and called the group “pillocks.”
Collins attempted to interrupt the broadcaster but was told “Don’t you ‘oi’ me. The public is not going to have this much longer, I tell you that.
“Do you really think you’re going to get your message across in this way?
“Do you know the people who are going against huge amounts of public opinion sitting in the road? These are decent people.”
“No one has died… the ones who have died after the 8,500 every single year because of cold damp homes.”
Mr. Whale went on to brand them as “idiots” who are “sitting in the middle of the road, stopping people from going to the hospital or earning a living.”
A senior officer on the Met’s roads team tweeted: “Whatever your thoughts are re the cause, this method of entering a 4 lane carriageway in this way is so unbelievably dangerous, not just for the protestors but the road users themselves.
“If you’re thinking of taking part in these actions, please for everyone’s safety, don’t!”
