Insulate Britain campaigners are back on the M25 this morning and have vowed to continue their protests until the prime minister makes a “meaningful statement” on insulating Britain’s homes.
The group, who previously blocked roads by sitting in front of cars and glueing themselves to the roads, have now changed tack and have been spotted walking along the white lines of the M25. They opted to stop sitting on the roads after receiving “feedback” that many drivers were frustrated by their actions.
At 10:50 am the group tweeted that two groups of walkers joined the protesters and are walking along the white lines on the motorway at junctions 21 and 22 after earlier plans were called off due to safety concerns.
BREAKING: 10:50am
— Insulate Britain (@InsulateLove) October 29, 2021
🦺Two further groups of walkers have joined Insulate Britain on the M25 this morning after calling off their earlier plans due to safety concerns
🚨They are walking along the white lines on the motorway at Junctions 21 and 22#Savelives and #InsulateBritain pic.twitter.com/k2C18RxWGI
In a statement to indy100, Insulate Britain said: “Insulate Britain will continue with its campaign until Boris Johnson makes a meaningful statement we can trust to insulate British homes, then we’d be off the roads in a flash.”
Earlier this morning 14 eco-warriors caused disruption on Britain’s busiest motorway by walking between the lanes of oncoming traffic between junctions 28 and 29.
14 ordinary people from Insulate Britain have caused major disruption on the M25, walking onto the carriageway between the lanes of oncoming traffic.
— Insulate Britain (@InsulateLove) October 29, 2021
We demand @10DowningStreet gets on with the job to #InsulateBritain starting with the homes of the poorest people in the country. pic.twitter.com/b2C9WTGYPk
Sign up to our new free Indy100 weekly newsletter
Essex Police first received calls about disruption at junction 28 and 29 this morning at 8 am.
Police said ten arrests were made this morning.
Chief Inspector Lee Devall said such incidents are not only “frustrating” for road users, but they are also “extremely dangerous”.
Devall said: “I’d like to thank road users today for their patience and understanding. You’ve helped us to clear the area quickly, to keep people safe, minimise disruption, and keep Essex moving.
“Our teams are experienced at dealing with incidents which cause significant disruption and are well prepared for them. We will continue to deal with these incidents robustly.”
We have acted quickly to make arrests and minimise disruption on the #M25 this morning, Friday 29 October.
— Essex Police (@EssexPoliceUK) October 29, 2021
Officers responded swiftly to remove people from the road between J28 & 29.
Both carriageways reopened within 30 minutes.
10 have been arrested.https://t.co/O3QaWk5No5 pic.twitter.com/oaQLxiasWj
The group said that today marks the sixteenth time the group has disrupted major roads as part of its campaign.
Insulate Britain acknowledged it was knowingly breaching a High Court injunction that aims to prevent its disruptive activities.
Those who break the injunctions could be found in contempt of court and face a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
A spokesperson for the group, who gave his name as Biff, said safety was “paramount” and the protests would not have proceeded if cars did not slow down sufficiently.
“The intention is to enter the carriageway and walk towards the oncoming traffic along the white lines,” he told the PA news agency prior to the protest.
“If cars don’t slow down and are hurtling along at full speed then we will be on the hard shoulder wearing our hi-vis with the banners. We would hope that it slows down anyway.”
He added: “We’ve had feedback that people are frustrated that they spent time in traffic queues.
“This is like a rolling traffic queue, so we’ll move, and once they get to the front they will be able to move on. We’re not planning to stop traffic but it could slow down to five miles an hour.”
Liam Norton from Insulate Britain said that Britain should be “leading the world with radical plans to decarbonise our society” ahead of Cop26 beginning in Glasgow this weekend.
Norton said: “The citizens of this country should be in open revolt. We need change and we need it quickly.
He continued: “It is clear that this government has no intention of getting on with the job that they were elected to do. No intention of protecting the country from climate collapse. Our children’s futures have been trashed. Our country sold out. We have been betrayed by the traitors now in power.”
Tracey Malligan from Insulate Britain said she wishes she didn’t have to cause disruption but feels that “non-violent civil resistance is the only thing that will get the job done”.
She said: “Within a few years, we will face rising levels of disruption, chaos and tragedy. Extreme weather, floods and crop failure are just the start.”
Earlier this week the demonstrations saw a retired doctor getting ink thrown in his face, and a fed-up motorist played the bagpipes in protesters’ faces to express his frustration.
Yesterday, Insulate Britain spokesperson Cameron Ford spoke out about the viral interview in which talkRADIO host Mike Graham argued that concrete can be grown.
Additional reporting by PA.
