Climate change protesters calling for the government to improve the insulation of Britain’s homes have blocked some M25 junctions.
Insulate Britain has been protesting at junctions 20, 14, three, six, and 31, demanding that the government take action to insulate the country’s “29 million leaky homes”, which, according to the campaigners, are “some of the oldest and most energy inefficient in Europe”.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the group said: “We are disrupting the M25.
“Why? We are demanding the government and Boris Johnson create hundreds of thousands of jobs, lower our emissions, and save lives.
“#getonwiththejob and #insulatebritain @10DowningStreet.”
Arrests
Essex Police have arrested 12 people had been arrested for highways obstruction.
The force said it was called to reports that a number of people were blocking the road near junction 31 just before 08:15 this morning.
Surry Police tweeted that a number of people had been arrested following protests at junctions six and 14.
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Kent Police said it was called at 08:10am to a group of people obstructing the roundabout at junction three.
Hertfordshire Police said it was dealing with an incident near junction 20, involving a small number of protesters.
It said the junction was closed.
‘Just the start’
Insulate Britain said action would go on until a “meaningful commitment” was made.
In a statement on its website, Insulate Britain said that Monday’s disruption was “just the start”.
The group continued: “Actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate Britain’s 29 million leaky homes, some of the oldest and most energy inefficient in Europe.”
Insulate Britain has two demands:
- That the UK government immediately promises to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025
- That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy
Responding to the protests, a government spokesperson said: “People’s day-to-day lives should not be disrupted, especially on busy motorways where lives are put at risk and resulting traffic delays will only add to vehicle emissions.
“We are investing £1.3bn this year alone to support people to install energy-efficiency measures, and our upcoming Heat and Buildings Strategy will set out how we decarbonise the nation’s homes in a way that is fair, practical, and affordable.”
Image: Insulate Britain
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