Greenpeace climb onto roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion in protest over North Sea oil and gas drilling
Greenpeace activists have climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion in protest over the expansion of oil and gas drilling.
The protesters mounted the Prime Minister’s Yorkshire property after the Government confirmed it would grant more than 100 new licences in a drilling “frenzy”.
After climbing onto the PM’s roof, activists unfolded 200 sq metres of black fabric, while a further two unfurled a banner with the words: “Rishi Sunak – Oil Profits or Our Future?”
Greenpeace said they draped the house with oil-black fabric to “drive home the dangerous consequences”.
It comes after Mr Sunak announced plans to “max out” the UK’s oil and gas reserves in the North Sea.
But climate groups have slammed the move, warning it will hinder efforts to reach net-zero by 2050.
Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Philip Evans said: “We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist.
“Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling.
“He seems quite happy to hold a blowtorch to the planet if he can score a few political points by sowing division around climate in this country. This is cynical beyond belief.
“More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak’s own windfall tax.”
A number 10 source said it makes “no apology” for the move to “ensure our energy security” in the UK.
“The police are in attendance,” they said.
“We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like (Vladimir) Putin for our energy. We are also investing in renewables and our approach supports 1000s of British jobs.”
This story is being updated.
