Insulate Britain have been causing chaos on roads in recent weeks
Boris Johnson has called Insulate Britain protestors “irresponsible crusties.”
His comments come on the same day that Home Secretary Priti Patel announced new powers to stop activists attending demos.
On Monday (October 4), footage was shared online of people pleading with protestors to get out of the road, including one woman who was trying to visit her sick mother in hospital, asking them: “How can you be so selfish?”
https://twitter.com/NewsForAllUK/status/1444948887912034305
Speaking to LBC on Tuesday morning, the Prime Minister said that the protestors were doing “considerable damage to the economy.”
He told Nick Ferrari: “There are some people who call those individuals legitimate protesters.
“They are not. I think they are irresponsible crusties who are basically trying to stop people going about their day’s work and doing considerable damage to the economy.
“That is why we have taken the powers and why Priti Patel is doing the right thing to bring in powers so they can get six months or an unlimited fine.
Boris Johnson brands Insulate Britain eco-mob 'irresponsible crusties, who are trying to stop people going about their day's work and doing considerable damage to the economy.'@NickFerrariLBC pic.twitter.com/rkOBDQwiqq
— LBC (@LBC) October 5, 2021
Almost 40 Insulate Britain protestors were arrested at their protest on Monday, with Policing Minister Kit Malthouse admitting that the group had been slipping through a “legal loophole.”
He told Sky News that footage of a paramedic dragging some of the protestors out of the road was “distressing stuff.”
He continued: “While we obviously all value the right to protest, there is a difference between causing disruption and causing damage.
“We believe that these protesters and some of the others that we’ve seen in the last couple of years have crossed the line between exercising their right but also their responsibility towards the rest of us, and something needs to be done.”
'There is a difference between causing disruption and damage.'
Kit Malthouse says while he "values the right to protest", Insulate Britain road-blocking has "crossed the line".
He adds "something needs to be done" with new measures to be announced.https://t.co/JW3aC4o3nD pic.twitter.com/bn4WLYBCrq
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 5, 2021
Related links:
- Insulate Britain are now blocking the Port of Dover after M25 protest
- Insulate Britain protestor storms off GMB after clash with Richard Madeley
- Insulate Britain protestors face imprisonment after judge grants injunction
