Climate protesters held for draping UK PM Sunak's home in black cloth

August 03, 2023 19:45

Four climate protesters from Greenpeace were arrested on Thursday after they draped the home of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in northern England in black cloth, in protest against his recent backing for an expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling.

The Greenpeace activists had climbed onto the roof of Sunak's sprawling constituency home in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to unfold 200 square metres of "oil-black fabric' to cover one side of the mansion.

The local North Yorkshire Police issued a statement to say that its officers had responded to the protest activity at the Prime Minister's home in Kirby Sigston.

"Officers have contained the area and no one has entered the building. The PM and his family are not at home," the police said.

It confirmed the arrests on Thursday afternoon after the four protesters finally climbed down from the roof after around three hours and were seen being led away into the back of police vans.

Sunak, along with wife Akshata Murty and daughters Krishna and Anoushka, is currently away on a week-long holiday in California.

Asked about the incident, deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden told the BBC he thought the British people were "sick of these stupid stunts".

Two other Greenpeace activists unfurled a banner emblazoned with the words 'Rishi Sunak' -- Oil Profits or Our Future?' on the grass in front of the home.

"Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling," said Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK's climate campaigner. -- PTI

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