Opinion: Insulate Britain campaigners should hang their heads in shame for disruption they’ve caused

Scores of activists from the climate change group have been arrested over the last few weeks for causing chaos on the M25.

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Their protests have resulted in long tailbacks on the motorway on a number of occasions, disrupting many people going about their daily business – people going to work to put food on the table, people going to school, college or university to learn, people going to see loved ones after being apart for months during the pandemic.

A man told LBC radio his poorly mum was stuck in traffic for six hours on her way to hospital and has been left partially paralysed from a stroke. Absolutely shocking.

Police have had to deal with campaigners who have put themselves at risk of serious injury or even death by disrupting motorway traffic. Officers’ time could be better spent elsewhere.

Insulate Britain activists have also blocked Dover port, causing queues of vehicles attempting to cross the Channel.

The port of Dover is a vital artery of the UK’s trade – the last thing we need right now is even more supply chain problems.

Insulate Britain wants the installation of heat-saving measures in social housing by 2025, and all homes by 2030.

The Government insists it is ‘investing £1.3billion this year alone to support people to install energy efficiency measures’.

More definitely needs to be done to tackle climate change – and some people will argue that Insulate Britain’s protests are highlighting a very important issue.

But I think the campaigners are raising awareness in completely the wrong way and need to take a step back, think about the consequences of their actions – and protest in a way which all of us can support and get behind.

And finally…

I know the issue of HGV driver shortages and some petrol stations running out of fuel is very serious – but I had to smile at the BBC’s coverage over the weekend.

They decided to broadcast live at a forecourt in Stockport - and there was only one reporter for the job.

His name… Phil McCann.

Phil McCann, hahaha!

Sometimes you’ve got to laugh amid the madness.

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