Greenpeace Protesters Target Rishi Sunak’s Private Home Over Oil Drilling Policy
LONDON, Aug 3 (Reuters) – Greenpeace activists draped the private residence of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in black fabric on Thursday in protest against the government’s policy on oil drilling. The move comes as Sunak’s record on environmental issues faces increasing scrutiny.
Sunak has been under fire in recent months for his stance on climate change, as he expressed intentions to take a “proportionate approach” that balances net zero ambitions with keeping consumer bills down. Climate protesters have intensified their campaigns in response, disrupting high-profile events such as sporting matches, music concerts, and political speeches.
In response to the protests, Sunak’s ministers have introduced new legislation to crack down on the tactics employed by “eco-mob” protesters, including slow walking on busy roads and “locking-on” to buildings or infrastructure.
Pictures posted by Greenpeace UK showed four protesters atop Sunak’s property in Yorkshire, northern England, covering it with black fabric, while a banner read “RISHI SUNAK – OIL PROFITS OR OUR FUTURE?”
The protest was aimed at the government’s support for new North Sea oil and gas licenses and the proposed development of Equinor’s Rosebank oilfield, which is pending a final investment decision.
“We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist,” Greenpeace UK said.
Sunak, who went on holiday to California on Wednesday, released a statement from his office stating that the area had been contained and no one had entered the building.
Meanwhile, a separate protest took place outside Sunak’s official Downing Street residence and office on Thursday.
The government’s handling of environmental issues has faced criticism, with a poll released on Wednesday showing that 67% of voters believe the government is doing a poor job in this area, the worst rating since mid-2019. Some members of Sunak’s Conservative party are concerned about what they see as the prime minister’s weakening commitment to environmental pledges.
Sunak defended his environmental record on Wednesday, asserting that Britain has outperformed other major countries in reducing carbon emissions.
“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,” a source from Sunak’s office stated.
The protest comes as the spotlight on energy security grows due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In response, the government has committed to granting hundreds of licenses for North Sea oil and gas extraction to enhance energy independence. In addition, the government approved its first new deep coal mine in decades last December.
The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.