Insulate Britain cause yet more mayhem in Kent and West London

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Angry drivers threatened to run over Insulate Britain activists today while others threw ink at them and confronted police, telling them to ‘drag them out the f***ing way’ as the eco mob returned to London’s roads during rush hour.

The campaigners split their action across two sides of the capital today, with one group sitting on the A40 in North Acton, West London, and others blocking a major roundabout next to the Dartford Crossing on the M25 in Kent.

The protesters have brought chaos to motorways and A roads in the capital since mid-September with 146 people taking part in the campaign and 690 arrests made so far – but the Metropolitan Police has still charged no one.

In Dartford this morning, police had to hold some of the drivers back and warned them they could be arrested for assault if they touched the activists. One irate motorist was heard on Sky News telling an officer: ‘I’ll get the lorry down here and I’ll run over them, I promise you, just saying. Drag them out the f***ing way mate, will you?’

As another motorist tried to pick up the protesters themselves, an officer told him: ‘No, don’t even think about it.’ That driver was then heard saying: ‘Get out of the road, we’ve got work to do. We’re trying to earn money here. We’ve got people trying to get to school, we’ve got people going to school, get out the f***ing road.’ He then tells the officer: ‘Get them out the road, why ain’t you nicking them?’ But the officer tells him to ‘get back in your car’.

Motorists stuck in North Acton shortly after 8am this morning were so angry at the protesters sitting in front of them at traffic lights that one threw ink over one of them – a 77-year-old retired doctor called Christian.

Christian said: ‘It wasn’t painful, it didn’t hurt – it was unpleasant, but just sad, the whole thing’s sad, it’s sad that we have to do this. I hate doing it, I’m a retired doctor, I’ve spent my whole life trying to help people, and I’m reduced to having to do this because the Government won’t address the problem adequately, basically. Terribly worried.’

Another driver on the A40 today removed the group’s banners, shouting: ‘Get out the road’. While being filmed by Greatest Hits Radio London News, he added: ‘Who’s going to help me move them, someone help me move them?’ 

And a BBC correspondent at the scene told Breakfast: ‘Now the police are here, but have readily admitted they’re too short-staffed to move them off the road, so this disruption will probably last for at least a few hours here.’

As drivers faced two-mile tailbacks on the A40 this morning, a Metropolitan Police spokesman said: ‘The Met is aware of Insulate Britain activists blocking the road at the A40 junction with Gypsy Lane in North Acton. Officers were promptly on the scene. Traffic has had to be diverted for the safety of all. We’ll share updates soon.’ 

Meanwhile, protesters on the road at Dartford were unhappy at how quickly the police turned up, with one of the activists telling the Guardian: ‘We’re here again, Insulate Britain, and we’re attempting to block this road. 

‘Police arrived very quickly, arresting us. I’m fine, it would have been good if we’d had a little longer, but we’re here, and we’re doing it, and we’re still making the same statement whether it’s for a long period or short.’

And one teenage demonstrator in Dartford was overheard saying on Sky News just before he was pulled off the road by a police officer: ‘I’m 18, I’m terrified of all the war that will happen because of the climate.’ 

Kent Police arrested six people in Dartford at a Hilton hotel car park before the protests even started. Protesters included Amy Pritchard and Tony Hill, who were also at demonstrations at Bishopsgate in London on Monday.

Miss Pritchard, who claimed to have been arrested 11 times since September 13, said: ‘The plan is we are being searched and are about to be arrested. We were going to go on to the roundabout to obstruct it. We’ve been prevented from entering the roundabout. The police have not been charging us with anything or interviewing us.

‘There’s been a political decision not to deal with us and we don’t want to be blocking roads, so it is fine. And we will continue until our demands are met and we are prevented from doing this. The decarbonisation at the speed and scale that is necessary is more important than the legal consequences for us all individually.’

A total of around 40 activists descended on Dartford, with some of them glueing their hands to the road or to each other to delay their removal by officers. Kent Police arrested 14 people on the A206 at nearby Greenhithe. 

The two protests comes one day after Insulate Britain urged drivers not to use the M25 as they threatened to bring chaos to the motorway again with a series of road blockades. The environmental campaigners also asked police to refuse to arrest them and had warned their ‘non-violent civil resistance’ would restart on the road from 7am today.

Insulate Britain added that if motorists do still choose to use the M25 this morning then their speed should be ‘reduced to 20 mph to minimise the risk of accidents’. It comes after the London-based activists were effectively banned from all major roads in England on Monday following a landmark High Court ruling.  

Today’s action – which started one hour later than planned – comes after the eco-zealots brought parts of Central London to a standstill once again on Monday, with several of them glueing their hands, feet or faces to roads. 

Four court injunctions have been taken out in response to the protests. Most recently, National Highways secured a ban on activities which obstruct traffic on its 4,300-mile network of motorways and major A-roads in England.

This came in the wake of a super injunction granted to the Government-owned agency on Monday, which prohibits Insulate Britain activists from interfering with traffic on any part of the strategic road network in England.

A spokesman for Kent Police said: ‘Fourteen people have been arrested after traffic on the A206 at Crossways Boulevard, Greenhithe, was obstructed in both directions.

‘At around 8.05am on Wednesday, Kent Police received a report that a group of protesters had gathered at the location and some of those involved had glued themselves to the road surface, or each other.

‘Officers attended the scene within minutes and by 8.30am traffic was flowing in both directions. Each of the individuals was arrested on suspicion of obstructing a highway and conspiracy to commit public nuisance. 

‘They remain in custody as enquiries continue. Motorists are advised to expect delays and to use an alternative route if possible.’

Among those involved in the protests today was Suzie, 47, from Cambridge, who works in childcare. She said: ‘If going to prison and losing my home is what it takes to get the government to do the right thing and cut our carbon emissions then it’s a price worth paying. I can’t be a bystander while this government betrays the public, our children and future generations by failing to defend our country from the climate crisis.

‘Insulating Britain’s leaky homes has to come first. It will cut out a huge chunk of our carbon emissions, help families struggling with their energy bills and end fuel poverty. It’s such a basic first step that you have to wonder why the government refuses to act. Don’t they care?’

And Ben, 36, a geologist from Somerset said: ‘Faced with 8,500 people dying from cold homes this winter and gaping holes in government carbon plans, I’m joining others and returning to the motorways.

‘We cannot wait until the next election, this is not a party political issue. We need to insulate and retrofit homes now to cut our carbon emissions or we will jeopardize the future of the country and the entire world.

‘There is widespread agreement that insulating our homes is urgent and necessary and that government plans are inadequate. The only question remaining is: will you join us on the motorway to demand action now?’

Meanwhile a spokesman for Insulate Britain said today: ‘Insulate Britain has blocked part of the A40 in West London and a roundabout in Dartford this morning after declaring the M25 a site of nonviolent civil resistance yesterday.

‘We are demanding that the government gets on with the job of insulating Britain’s homes, starting with the homes of the poorest people in the country.

‘The action comes in the wake of a super injunction granted to National Highways on Monday, which prohibits people from Insulate Britain from interfering with traffic on any part of the strategic road network in England.

‘This is one of four temporary injunctions granted to National Highways and Transport for London in recent weeks.’

It comes after a spokesman said yesterday: ‘In light of a national injunction covering England’s highways, Insulate Britain has declared the M25 a site of nonviolent civil resistance and called for motorway traffic to be slowed.

‘You can’t imprison a flood, there are no unlimited fines against a famine, you can’t bankrupt a fire. You can imprison the ordinary people of Britain, yet the lives of our children and those of all future generations hang in the balance.

‘By refusing to insulate Britain’s homes, our government is also condemning thousands to death through fuel poverty this winter, while countless families will once again be cold and hungry.

‘We are not concerned with endless injunctions. We are not concerned with our fears. We are concerned with fulfilling our duties and responsibilities at this ‘period of consequence’.’ 

The group added that the M25 will ‘become a place of nonviolent civil resistance to stop our government committing crimes against humanity’ from 7am today.

The Insulate Britain spokesman continued: ‘This government, our government, is actively pursuing policies that will lead to the destruction of our country due to climate catastrophe.

‘In a free society, citizens have the right and a duty to rebel against plans which will knowingly result in the deaths of millions.

‘Insulate Britain acknowledges the inconvenience and irritation we are causing to the public in our campaign, we ask that you understand that the days of disruption are necessary to force a government to fulfil its most basic of duties to protect and defend its people.

‘Insulate Britain considers the UK Government to be in treasonous betrayal of this country.’

The group has set out three demands – the first being that people ‘do not use the M25, or if they do, speeds are reduced to 20 mph to minimise the risk of accidents’. 

The second is that National Highways ‘acts on its responsibilities to keep the public safe by enforcing this speed limit’.

And the third is that the ‘police refuse to arrest us, as we are upholding the British constitution and they have a duty to refuse to obey any government that fails to uphold its first and most important responsibility: the protection of people in Britain.’

The group also insisted: ‘We will ensure that emergency ‘blue light’ access is maintained.’

On Monday, Insulate Britain activists were effectively banned from all major roads in England following a major High Court ruling. 

Judges approved the application of an injunction against protesting on 4,300 miles of motorways and major A-roads, also known as the Strategic Road Network.

Anyone breaking it faces unlimited fines or jail for contempt of court.

It had originally been thought that the application, made by the country’s roads agency National Highways, would not be granted as it is so wide-ranging and unprecedented.

It came as Insulate Britain brought central London to a standstill once again on Monday, blocking hundreds of motorists – including one driving his father to hospital for cancer treatment.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the expanded injunction had been granted on Monday night.

He tweeted: ‘Insulate Britain are back, risking lives & ruining journeys. 3 specific injunctions are already in place, but today I instructed @NationalHways to apply for an injunction covering the entire strategic road network – tonight this has been granted on a temp basis by the High Court. 

‘The long term solution lies in changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, giving additional powers against disruptive protests which target critical national infrastructure. 

‘This includes unlimited fines & prison sentences of up to 6 months for obstructing highways.’ 

It is understood the new injunction will last until Thursday, when another High Court hearing will take place to decide if it should be extended.

The original injunctions only applied to the M25, feeder roads onto the M25 and the Port of Dover.

Members of the Extinction Rebellion offshoot have repeatedly blocked major roads, including the M25 and the M4, since September 13.

Transport for London also has an injunction effectively banning protests.

Last week it emerged nine activists will become the first to be taken to court for allegedly breaking the original National Highways injunction, with a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice on November 16.

Following Monday’s protests, the Metropolitan Police said 53 people were arrested after obstructing four busy streets across central and east London during the morning rush hour. 

The blockades – the first since a temporary pause for ten days by the group – triggered fury from Londoners, with many being filmed trying to drag the eco-warriors off the carriageway.

In one heated exchange, a man said he was trying to get his father to hospital for cancer treatment.

He said: ‘Do you know what it’s like someone trying to get treatment for cancer and you’re standing like this? People are trying to get to hospital, of all places.’

The protests were the organisation’s first since temporarily halting activities for 10 days from October 14.

Many of the activists superglued themselves to the road surface, with one even affixing his head to the tarmac.

In a new tactic, they also handed out leaflets to drivers, in an apparent bid to discourage violence against them, after a woman rammed a protestor with her Range Rover earlier this month.

The message read: ‘Dear driver, we are peaceful and non-violent.

‘We are sorry to delay your journey. For your safety please stay in your vehicle and do not drive on the hard shoulder, this is for emergency vehicles.

‘The police are on their way. They will arrest us and you will be able to continue your journey.’ 

Protestor Tony Hill, 71, said he had travelled from near Kendal in Cumbria to the capital to take part.

He said: ‘I’m here today out of anger, fear and determination. The anger that my Government is failing the people of our country.

‘The governments of the world are failing everyone. Everyone says we’re at the 11th hour but we’re at midnight and nothing substantial is being done by our Government and the governments across the world.

‘We’re saying insulate as many buildings as we can. It’s a no brainer. It’s something we can all do, it’s a solution.

‘We’ve got the money; all we need is the will power from our Government to do it. It will save money, create jobs, save lives and save the planet. Why aren’t they doing it?’

By midday, the last of the protesters at Bishopsgate and Camomile Street had been removed from the scene, letting the traffic flow freely once more.

The campaign continues despite facing repeated threats of imprisonment or unlimited fine for breaking various injunctions.

Yet Highways England is currently only applying for contempt of court proceedings to go ahead against nine protestors – with a court date yet to be scheduled.