Climate campaigners cause more chaos on London roads
It is the 11th such action by the group in recent weeks, following previous protests which have seen blockades of the busy M25 London orbital motorway and roads to the Port of Dover. The government, which has already sought court injunctions to try to prevent the action, said on Sunday it would amend existing legislation to increase penalties for obstructing a highway to an unlimited fine, six months' imprisonment, or both, in response to the action.
Climate change activists blocked major routes into London on Monday, causing huge tailbacks and chaos for rush hour traffic into the British capital in the latest disruptive protest which ministers have vowed to put an end to.
About 50 campaigners from Insulate Britain, which wants the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes, blocked the Blackwall Tunnel in east London, a bridge over the River Thames in southwest of the capital as well as busy routes in the north and west of the city. It is the 11th such action by the group in recent weeks, following previous protests which have seen blockades of the busy M25 London orbital motorway and roads to the Port of Dover.
The government, which has already sought court injunctions to try to prevent the action, said on Sunday it would amend existing legislation to increase penalties for obstructing a highway to an unlimited fine, six months' imprisonment, or both, in response to the action. "Recent weeks have demonstrated that the police need stronger powers to tackle those who illegally block motorways," transport minister Grant Shapps said. "We will not stand by while motorists are held hostage."
Insulate Britain said its action would continue regardless. "We’re more scared of what will happen when the climate crisis causes the breakdown of law and order, than we are of injunctions and prison," an Insulate Britain spokesperson said.
"The government is focussing on us rather than what’s coming down the road. They need to face up to reality."
(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
- READ MORE ON:
- Insulate Britain
- London
- Britain
- British
- River Thames
- Grant Shapps
ALSO READ
Entertainment News Roundup: Gwyneth Paltrow's next step in wellness journey: finding calm; 'Sunset Boulevard' leads nominations at London's theatre Olivier Awards and more
Naomi Campbell's enduring fashion career will be celebrated with a London museum exhibition
FCA signals watchdog open to ending to free banking in Britain
Britain, Turkey to begin talks on new free trade deal in June
EXPLAINER-What is Britain's new extremism definition?