Boris: Fanatics harm moral case for eco change
BORIS Johnson accused eco-fanatics yesterday of detracting from the ‘moral mission’ of tackling climate change as they brought chaos to Britain’s busiest motorway for the fourth time in a week.
Insulate Britain caused rush hour delays for thousands by gluing themselves to the carriageway of M25 and pouring paint on the road.
Mr Johnson yesterday condemned the group while on a trip to New York to discuss with other world leaders how to tackle climate change.
‘We are taking powers to be able to move protesters when they are threatening critical national infrastructure, when they are threatening to do serious economic damage and… no, I don’t think these people do any favours to their cause,’ he said.
‘What they do is detract from a very important moral mission that is widely shared by the people of this country.’
It was the fourth time that Insulate Britain had caused disruption to M25 users – including a stroke victim on her way to hospital – as part of a campaign to demand better home insulation. Yesterday police arrested 41 protesters. Officers reacted more quickly after being criticised last week for their slow response, although there were still considerable traffic delays.
In Hertfordshire, 29 were arrested after blocking the M25 near junctions 4 and 18, leading to significant tailbacks and a road diversion. Hertfordshire Police Chief Superintendent Nick Caveney said: ‘Officers were on the scene within minutes of being alerted, allowing us to put diversions in place and to make numerous arrests. All protesters involved have been arrested and will be taken to custody.’ In Dartford, Kent Police arrested 12 activists before they were able to reach the road.
Insulate Britain, which have so far mainly targeted the M25, are hoping that their antics lead to them being remanded in custody. They hope that their imprisonment – in the lead up to the Cop2 climate change summit in Glasgow – will be such an embarrassment that insulation will be forced up the Government’s agenda.