Protesters blocked morning rush-hour traffic close to Gypsy Corner on the A40 in London, and near the Dartford Crossing in Kent
Insulate Britain protesters have had ink thrown on them as they blocked part of the A40 in west London, as well as a roundabout nearby to the Dartford Crossing.
It’s the latest action by the climate activism group, who’ve also blocked roads within central London and on the M25 within recent weeks.
One protester, with the dye-like substance covering his face, said: “It’s sad that we have to do this, I hate doing it.
“I’m a retired doctor and I’ve spent my life trying to help people and I’m reduced to having to do this.”
This comes after the UK strategy to reach net-zero emissions by the year 2050 is achievable and affordable, according to the government’s official climate advisers. The Climate Change Committee has said that the plan was the most comprehensive in the G20 and had strengthened the position of the UK as it prepares to preside over the Cop26 climate summit.
The climate group confirmed to Sky News that “someone threw it [the ink] over the people sitting in the road”.
Wednesday morning’s protests were near to Gypsy Corner on the A40 in North Acton, where photos have shown people sitting in the road in front of queuing traffic.
There was another demonstration by the group near to the Dartford Crossing, at the A206 Crossways Boulevard.
Kent Police tweeted: “Fourteen people have been arrested after we received a report of protestors obstructing Crossways Boulevard in #Greenhithe. They remain in custody as enquiries continue.”
It said officers were on the scene minutes after receiving reports of the protest at 8.05am, with traffic flowing again by 8.30am.
It comes as Insulate Britain , declaring that it “a site of nonviolent civil resistance to stop our government committing crimes against humanity”.
The climate activism group wants the government to insulate homes throughout the country in order to reduce emissions and fight climate change.
Insulate Britain has confirmed that its members were behind this morning’s disruption and said it was the fifteenth time it had blocked roads in the last six weeks.
Two men were arrested close to the Dartford Crossing by Kent Police ahead of the protests.
This comes after a total of 61 of activists were sitting on roads carrying Insulate Britain banners, and some glued themselves to the road surface. The Metropolitan Police has said that 53 people have been arrested following the Insulate Britain demonstrations occurring in three separate locations across London.
Their latest action comes despite a new “super injunction”, granted on Monday, that bans the group from interfering with traffic on any part of the road network in England.
It also comes two days after police in central London arrested 53 people after the group restarted their action after a 10-day break.
Video from Monday showed one man berating protesters, saying his father needed treatment and calling them “scum” – and even wishing cancer on the family of one protester.
Some activists have glued themselves to the road during the sit-ins, and there have also been instances where members of the public have dragged them out the way.
