Suella Braverman (Home Secretary) has called climate change activists ‘thugs’. In a blistering attack, she also criticised Metropolitan Police and asked them to do ‘a better job.
She was critical of protesters’ ‘imagined right’ to bully the rest, and added: “Who are they thinking they are?”
This was in response to a 15th consecutive day of demonstrations by Just Stop Oil who also blocked London roads today. There were further protests from vegan activists Animal Rebellion, which involved pouring milk onto the ground and meat counters at luxury shops like Fortnum and Mason.
Ms Braverman described climate activists as “protesters”, and stated that “democracies make civilized decisions.”
Her criticism wasn’t just reserved for the activists themselves, she also issued a stark warning to the police: ‘I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals – as does the public.’
She referred to Just Stop Oil activists and Insulate Britain protesters, saying that they are “wildly irresponsible and idiotic” and could endanger lives by gluing themselves to roads.
In her Sunday article, The Mail On Sunday, she threatened to impose future severe penalties “in order to prevent public disorder.”
She made these comments ahead of this week’s return to Parliament of the Public Order Bill. This bill, the government hopes will give officers more power to handle protestors faster. To allow police to search for superglue, the proposed measures will include increased stop-and-search powers.
Suella Braverman, a fierce critic of eco-protesters & the Metropolitan Police, wrote an article in The Mail On Sunday Last Night – telling police to do ‘a better job’
A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products
Animal Rebellion supporters dump thousands of litres onto the Marks and Spencers floors as they call for a plant-based future from government.
Harrods meat counter was targeted by the zealots. They object to products made from animal-based materials such as milk and meat.
A Waitrose store in Edinburgh was hit by the eco-mob. They are targeting high-end stores and calling for a shift to a more plant-based future.
Manchester’s Eco-protesters spread milk across the floor, right next to the Marks and Spencers meat aisle.
Harrods protesters stage a strike as confused and unperplexed Saturday shoppers look on or continue their shopping
A major piece of legislation is the Public Order Bill. It will bring a host of new laws to curb protests.
Ms Braverman accused protesters depleting resources of police. The bill will allow secretaries to state to request injunctions in ‘public interest’ for protests causing or threatening serious disruption to public safety.
The Home Office says that this includes protecting the access to essential goods and services as well as key infrastructure.
Ms. Braverman stated that she would not be influenced by protestors who try to keep the British people in slavery. The public interest is at stake if we prevent emergency services reaching the people most in dire need.
“This severe and dangerous disruption, not to mention the vandalism is neither a freedom or a human right. This must be stopped.
The Home Office said the proposed public order legislation would create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses. This offence could result in a maximum 12 month sentence, an unspecified fine or both.
People could be sentenced to six months imprisonment or fined an unlimited amount for ‘locking on’, ‘going prepared to lock-on’ other people or objects to cause serious disruption.
The creation of a new criminal court for tunnelling to cause severe disruption will also be a major step in the right direction. This office can carry both a maximum sentence of 3 years imprisonment and monetary penalties that could go unspecified. It will also create an offense of tunneling equipped.
Ms Braverman announced that the Public Order Bill would be returning to Parliament next week. She said it was high time MPs supported it. The Public Order Bill will give police stronger and more powerful powers in order to counter the increase in self-destructive protest strategies.
“It is high time that Parliament rallied behind the principle and placed the law-abiding majority in charge.”
Also, the Home Office promises support for the police with stop-and search measures and new serious disturbance prevention orders. This will include those frequently convicted in protest-related cases.
Animal Rebellion, an off shoot of Extinction Rebellion, today shocked Saturday shoppers as they organised a co-ordinated ‘milk pour’ targeting upmarket stores across the country.
The milk was taken from multiple shelves in Waitrose, Whole Foods, Marks and Spencer stores across the country. They then dumped the contents on the floors and counters.
Signs were held by the young climate activists calling for a future based on plants, as a response to high-carbon footprint of animal products.
The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the organisation, while in Fortnum & Mason the cheese counter was vandalised.
Video of protesters at Marks and Spencers Manchester – A man can be heard saying to them: “Plant-based future?” You should take off your shoes because they aren’t plant-based.
Animal Rebellion claimed it was raising awareness about the need for farmers to transition to sustainable food systems that are plant-based.
Skylar Sharples, a graduate of international development University of Sussex, was one of the Harrods protesters. She said that ‘Supporters of Animal Rebellion have returned acting because Liz Truss (Prime Minister), Ranil Jayawardena, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Secretary of state for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), are once again refusing to listen to calls to build a better future.
“A world based on plant life would be a wonderful place for everyone, one that thrives with the natural world and all living things.
“There must be a plan now to help farmers transition to a more sustainable future.
Skylar Sharples, a Bristol-based international development graduate and protester at Harrods, stated: “Supporters for Animal Rebellion are back in action because Liz Truss and Ranil Jawardena (Secretary to State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), are once again refusing to listen to calls to build a better future.”
Marks and Spencers Manchester Market Street was the location for milk pours.
Protesters marche up to Waitrose’s milk aisle and pour large quantities of milk onto the ground.
An eco-zealot approaches a bystander to argue with her during a tirade against the dairy sector.
As protesters pour cartons of milk on the Marks and Spencers floor in Manchester, shoppers looked on.
Animal Rebellion declared that it calls for a plant-based world and is supporting farmers as they transition to sustainable food systems.
The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the eco mob, while in Fortnum & Mason – two of London’s poshest shops – the cheese counter was vandalised
One Marks and Spencers customer looks annoyed as protesters pour gallons of milk on the ground.
Protesters raid the cheese section of upmarket Fortnum & Mason’s in Piccadilly, grabbing milk and pouring it out onto the shop floor
Moments before the milk was spread all over the floor, protesters carried baskets of milk.
Lou Hadden from Herefordshire, who was a volunteer for charity, joined Fortnum and Mason’s action. She said, “This isn’t how I imagined spending my weekend.”
“Unfortunately this disruption is required to get the power brokers to pay attention to Harvard, Oxford, and the IPCC (“Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)”).
“The transition to plant-based foods is being called for by the world’s top climate scientists and land scientists.
“We require bold, decisive politics in this moment and not the horrifying shows we are currently seeing.”
There are currently a number of ‘Milk Pours taking place in the UK. Everybody is concerned and calling for the government to provide a living future.
‘Animal Rebellion supporters have just poured out milk across the floor and over other dairy products at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly,’ came another tweet.
“We’re asking the government to help farmers transition to a plant-based system of food.”
One protester shouted that the dairy industry was responsible for most methane emissions as she pour milk into the Waitrose milk aisle.
The bystander interrupted her and tried to get back at her.
She says, “We’re all for peaceful protests and no-violence. We’re just calling attention to the injustice of this industry.” Before continuing her rant.
The same group struck Fortnum & Masons just two weeks ago when activists from the group sparked fury by pouring milk over two high-end London department stores in a protest against dairy products.
Furious drivers pulled out eco protesters from the street and begged for them to leave. Just Stop Oil was blocking busy Shoreditch High Street East London.
The Met Police arrived at the scene to dismantle the protestors blocking the streets for the 15th consecutive day. At the junction, 26 were taken into custody.
Police officers take a man away from Shoreditch High Street, after he took part in the most recent eco-warrior protests in London.
Metropolitan Police have arrested 26 persons as they clear Just Stop Oil protestors of the streets today
As they stand in the middle East London Road, an angry motorist grabs the Eco-Warriors banner.
One member of the general public drags away the Just Stop Oil protestor who was blocking Shoreditch High Street’s busy intersection.
The disruption was caused by 29 protesters. One van driver said he needed to transport his wife to hospital.
Tensions rose between activists and driver when he began driving towards the members of the group seated in the middle.
A few protesters jump as the van comes, while another woman can be heard shouting “No! Don’t do it!’
The driver is filmed by members of the general public as they ask him where he’s going. Before he answers, ‘My wife isn’t well. She needs to go to the hospital.
During the heated exchange, he said that he had some respect for others.
“There are other people that need to go to these places.”
Unbeknownst to the others, another motorist pleaded for the activists’ safety and asked them to leave the roadway before trying to physically remove them.
You can see the fuming man grabbing a banner from the Just Stop Oil protesters and screaming: “You all use fuel in one way or another… This is absurd!
According to the group, the statement read: “Just after 12pm 29 supporters of Just Stop Oil blocked traffic in Shoreditch during the 15th day of October action.” They demand that all oil and gas consents be revoked and new licences for petroleum and natural gas are canceled.
“Supporters set up a roadblock in Shoreditch High Street near the intersection of Great Eastern Street. They sat on the roadside with banners, and stuck themselves to the pavement.
According to figures from the Home Office, more than 350 Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested in London between October 1st and 10.
Sadiq Khan, London’s Mayor, and the Home Secretary will attend the meeting presided over by Nadhim Zahawi (Chancellor of Lancaster), where they are likely to discuss recent protests.
SUELLA BRAVERMAN : It is time to stop. Eco-zealots are not just causing mayhem – they are risking lives
Enough is enough. Getting in the way of ambulances, fire engines, and cars carrying babies to hospital isn’t just illegal, it’s monstrously selfish. Just Stop Oil is the latest campaign to engage in such guerrilla tactics, but they are part of an ignoble tradition that includes Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.
We have seen so-called protesters stick themselves to trains, glue themselves to roads, dig dangerously unstable tunnels, interfere with newspaper distribution, vandalise property and mess with the fuel supply.
On Friday Just Stop Oil activists threw soup over Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers – one of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Who do they think they are?
This kind of behaviour is wrong no matter what the cause. There is widespread agreement that we need to protect our environment, but democracies reach decisions in a civilised manner.
Suella Braverman: ‘There is no more. It is not illegal to get in the way ambulances, fire trucks, or cars transporting babies to hospitals.
You can’t think of a greater entitlement than your imagined right to bully every other person.
I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals – as does the public. They are utterly wrong to think that they can ignore the law.
Our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has given police more power to deal with serious disruptive protests, however, it was diluted by the House of Lords.
A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products
Because this is unacceptable, the Government has taken further actions. This week’s return to the Commons of the Public Order Bill will ensure that the safety and well-being of law-abiding citizens comes first.
The police can take proactive steps to avoid the type of disturbances we have witnessed in recent weeks. This is more time than the police would spend on pursuing criminals or rapists.
Those who glue themselves to the road – forcing the police to remove them – are wildly irresponsible, idiotic, and risking lives.
Animal Rebellion supporters dump thousands of litres onto the Marks and Spencers floors as they call for a plant-based future from government.
This is not only dangerous for the perpetrators, it’s also hazardous for police teams that remove them.
The Bill grants police power to search and stop people using equipment for these types of activities.
Just two police operations to deal with Extinction Rebellion activity in London cost £37 million, twice the annual budget of the violent crime taskforce. Meanwhile, HS2 estimates that protester action has cost them more than £146 million. It is an incredible waste of money. To deter disorder in the public sphere, we need to impose severe penalties.
The Serious Disruption Prevention Orders (SDO) will be issued to punish repeat, selfish disruptors. The dangerous act of tunnelling has been given new powers and offences.
By creating criminal infractions of interfering or denying access to key infrastructure or essential goods and/or services, the Bill will improve security at our oil terminals, transport networks and printing presses.
A small number of people can bring gridlock – and misery.
Ministers will have new power to insure that protesters don’t get away with their plans. This will stop them from becoming more chaotic.
This Government will not hesitate to act – and keep the law-abiding majority safe.