Insulate Britain says UK government 'need to be in court for treason'

The hearing over an injunction taken out by the government to try to stop protesters from blocking major roads in south-east England, after weeks of disruption for motorists will continue this week.

It bans activities that obstruct traffic and access to motorways and major A roads in and around London, as well as those that cause damage to the road surface and infrastructure, and prohibits demonstrators from gluing themselves to the highway or abandoning their vehicles, the Government says.

National Highways has previously taken out two injunctions to prevent action along the M25, as well as major roads around the Port of Dover, following disruption by Insulate Britain.

In a statement Insulate Britain said "Government ministers have not hidden that they have requested this injunction be brought, as they believe the actions of Insulate Britain are dangerous to the public and economically damaging.

"The original injunction was granted in the absence of representatives from Insulate Britain, who now have a right to apply for a variation in the terms of the injunction or to argue that it should not have been granted. Insulate Britain does not intend to contest the injunction.

"We all get it, we all know the government needs to take meaningful steps to address climate breakdown. We also agree that stopping ordinary people and disrupting normal, everyday life is unacceptable.

"Yet we also have to ask, what should you do when your government is betraying you? This sounds alarmist, but it is the reality of our situation. Through its refusal to take the most obvious steps of insulating our homes, which is the cheapest, most effective means of reducing carbon emissions, our government is locking in the destruction of our families, our communities and the state itself.

"It is not the people of Insulate Britain who should be facing imprisonment, it is our government who need to be in court for treason."