Bring back the water cannon!

HERE we go again. Yesterday, a bunch of ecomaniacs drove a dirty, diesel-powered, decommissioned fire engine into Central London.

They hosed down the Treasury — and themselves — with fake blood and then sat back and waited for the Old Bill to turn up.

And why wouldn’t they? Very little is likely to happen to them. Even when these lunatics are caught, the punishments handed out are derisory. They’re soon back on the streets, up to their same old tricks.

It turns out that one of the ringleaders was also involved in the plot a couple of months ago to ground planes at Heathrow. Why isn’t he in jail? Targeting planes flying in and out of a major international airport should be classed as an act of terrorism.

Last Christmas, 150,000 people due to fly out of Gatwick had their travel plans ruined by reports of a drone in the vicinity.

If Al Qaeda claimed responsibility, there would be a full-scale alert and tanks on the perimeter.

But because Extinction Rebellion say they’re doing it to save the planet, that’s all right then.

Yesterday’s daft stunt was just the start of a planned two weeks of demonstrations, aimed at bringing London to a standstill — again.

In April, 11 days of protests closed bridges and main roads, causing disruption to the daily lives of millions of people trying to go about their lawful business.

THE police simply stood aside and let them get on with it. Some even joined in. Remember the skateboarding Plod who became a social media sensation?

Who can forget that ridiculous pink sailing boat bolted down centre stage in Oxford Circus, one of London’s busiest junctions, for days on end.

At long last, the police seem to be taking the threat seriously. Or, at least, more seriously than they have up until now. Which isn’t saying much.

Scotland Yard has announced that it is bringing in specialist units to deal with the climate protesters.

But we’re not talking the Special Patrol Group here. The Yard is deploying officers trained in humanely releasing demonstrators who have chained or superglued themselves to buildings, railings or Tarmac.

Can’t have the poor lambs hurting themselves, can we? When Extinction Rebellion first turned London into one big traffic jam last November, I wrote: ‘The right to protest peacefully is an essential freedom in any democratic society. The right to make the lives of your fellow citizens a misery is not.’

Like most of these demos, though, disruption is not an unfortunate consequence, it’s the whole point.

But, for some reason, this Extinction Rebellion rabble is indulged.

I’ve previously contrasted the handling of the eco-protesters with the brutal treatment meted out to Countryside Marchers in the past. The authorities seem to base their approach to demonstrations on what is judged to be the righteousness of their cause.

Thus, saving the polar bears: Good. Kid gloves all round. Profoxhunting: Bad. Let’s crack some skulls, lads. Labour’s unlovely shadow chancellor John McDonnell was on Radio 2’ s Jeremy Vine show yesterday giving unequivocal support to the Extinction Rebellion cause.

If we don’t get behind them ‘we won’t be here’, he declared with all the piety befitting his training as a Jesuit priest.

He had particular praise for the children bunking off school. Of course he did.

What was it the Jesuits have always said? Oh yes: Give me the child and I’ll give you the man.

Make no mistake, eco-fascism is the new religion. Not for the first time, I find myself quoting Chesterton: When people stop believing in God they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything.

I can understand union members picketing in support of a pay rise, or to fight factory closures. I can even see the point of the Stop The War demos. At least they’re trying to do something tangible.

But Extinction Rebellion? What is it they hope to achieve? Yesterday they draped a banner over the fire engine reading: ‘ STOP FUNDING CLIMATE DEATH’. What does that even mean? The Government has already gone beyond the call of duty, pledging unrealistic targets for decarbonising the economy.

WHAT do they expect ministers to do in response to another two weeks of disruption — close all fossil-fuel power stations and ban all cars tomorrow?

No, although I’m sure the deluded hardline tree-huggers who turned out at the Treasury really do believe they can change the world.

Then again, so did the BaaderMeinhof gang.

But for the majority of those planning to cause chaos over the next couple of weeks, it’s simply a New Age version of a Jolly Boys’ Outing.

They’re demonstrating for the sake of it. Look at me, Mum, I’m on Sky News!

And to hell with the misery it brings to millions.

Of course, in light of yesterday’s stunt at the Treasury, the great irony is that ever since Boris, as London mayor, was forced by Mother Theresa to get rid of his water cannon, we can’t even turn the fire hoses on them.

Makes you proud to be British.