Climate protesters block M25 junctions, 11 arrested

Protesters demanding Government action on home insulation have partially blocked several junctions on the M25.

Motorists on the UK’s busiest motorway faced long delays as activists sat on the road holding banners.

National Highways said there was disruption at Junction 3 for Swanley in Kent, Junction 6 for Godstone in Surrey, Junction 14 for Heathrow Terminal 5, Junction 20 for Kings Langley in Hertfordshire, and Junction 31 for Purfleet in Essex.

Essex Police said 11 people were arrested at Junction 31 on suspicion of highways obstruction.

Chief Inspector Paul Austin said: “This incident caused significant disruption and our officers worked to resolve it as quickly and safely as possible.

“I want to thank the drivers affected for their patience and understanding.”

Surrey Police said a number of protesters were arrested at Junctions 6 and 14.

A group named Insulate Britain said it was behind the demonstrations.

It describes itself as “a new group demanding that the Government gets on with the job of insulating Britain’s homes”.

Its website warned that the disruption on Monday morning is “just the start”, and “action will continue until the Government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate Britain’s 29 million leaky homes”.

One supporter, Liam Norton, a 36-year-old electrician from London, said he is “shocked at the lack of significant action from our Government”.

He went on: “It’s a no brainer. Insulating Britain will reduce emissions, provide hundreds of thousands of jobs and stop our elderly dying in cold homes each winter. So stop messing about Boris and get on with the job.

“As soon as a statement is made that we can trust and is meaningful, we will get off the roads.”

Another activist, Zoe Cohen, 51, from Warrington, Cheshire, commented: “Boris needs to stop making things worse – with all their road building, airport expansion, HS2 white elephant and new oil fields – and get on with the obvious stuff like insulating the 29 million homes that need to come off fossil fuels.

“We can’t get to net zero if they don’t take responsibility for this. Only the Government can make this happen.”