NEWS | Insulate Britain protesters defy super injunction by blocking several roads this morning

The following is a press release from Insulate Britain:

Insulate Britain has blocked part of the A40 in West London and a roundabout in Dartford this morning after declaring the M25 a site of nonviolent civil resistance yesterday. We are demanding that the government gets on with the job of insulating Britain’s homes, starting with the homes of the poorest people in the country.   

The action comes in the wake of a super injunction granted to National Highways on Monday, which prohibits people from Insulate Britain from interfering with traffic on any part of the strategic road network in England. This is one of four temporary injunctions granted to National Highways and Transport for London in recent weeks. 

This is the fifteenth time that Insulate Britain has caused disruption on motorways and A roads as part of our campaign of nonviolent civil resistance over the past six weeks. So far, 

146 people have taken part in the campaign and there have been 690 arrests.

Suzie, 47, from Cambridge, who works in childcare, said:

“If going to prison and losing my home is what it takes to get the government to do the right thing and cut our carbon emissions then it’s a price worth paying. I can’t be a bystander while this government betrays the public, our children and future generations by failing to defend our country from the climate crisis.  

“Insulating Britain’s leaky homes has to come first. It will cut out a huge chunk of our carbon emissions, help families struggling with their energy bills and end fuel poverty. It’s such a basic first step that you have to wonder why the government refuses to act. Don’t they care?”

Ben, 36, a geologist from Somerset said:

“Faced with 8,500 people dying from cold homes this winter and gaping holes in government carbon plans, I’m joining others and returning to the motorways. We cannot wait until the next election, this is not a party political issue. We need to insulate and retrofit homes now to cut our carbon emissions or we will jeopardize the future of the country and the entire world.

“There is widespread agreement that insulating our homes is urgent and necessary and that government plans are inadequate. The only question remaining is: will you join us on the motorway to demand action now?”