Four Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak’s home today to protest against his backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling.
The protesters clambered onto the £2million mansion in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and draped it in what they described as 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft) of ‘oily-black fabric’.
At the same time, two further activists on the ground unfurled a banner featuring the words ‘Rishi Sunak – Oil Profits or Our Future?’ across the grass in front of the house.
Mr Sunak is not at the property after leaving to go on a US family holiday yesterday with his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10.
The Prime Minister is expected to spend about ten days abroad on the West Coast and will visit Disneyland in California – leaving Oliver Dowden in charge of the UK.
Four Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak’s home in Yorkshire today
The protesters clambered onto the Prime Minister’s £2million mansion in Yorkshire today
The activists went onto the roof and draped it it in what they described as ‘oily-black fabric’
Rishi Sunak left to go on holiday yesterday with his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10. They are pictured at the cinema to see Barbie on July 22
The demonstration follows a vow by Mr Sunak this week to ‘max out’ opportunities in the North Sea as he pledged to stand up for the oil and gas industry.
The Prime Minister confirmed 100 new licences are set to get the green light and signalled support for the controversial Rosebank development west of Shetland.
But Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said today: ‘We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist.
‘Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling.
‘He seems quite happy to hold a blowtorch to the planet if he can score a few political points by sowing division around climate in this country. This is cynical beyond belief.
Greenpeace described the Prime Minister as ‘cynical’ as it carried out the protest today
The activists are protesting against Mr Sunak backing more North Sea oil and gas drilling
Greenpeace activists walk on top of Mr Sunak’s home today and prepare to drape the banner
‘Sunak is even willing to peddle the old myth about new oil and gas helping ordinary people struggling with energy bills when he knows full well it’s not true.
‘More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak’s own windfall tax.
‘The experts are clear – we can’t afford any new oil and gas, and the fossil fuel industry certainly doesn’t need another helping hand in destroying the climate.
‘What we need is a clean, affordable energy system fit for the 21st century. It’s time for Sunak to choose between Big Oil’s profits or our future on a habitable planet.’
The protest follows Mr Sunak saying he was expecting his climate-conscious daughters to grill him on his plans to ‘max out’ the UK’s oil and gas reserves.
The protesters carry out the stunt on the Prime Minister’s mansion in Yorkshire this morning
The protesters walk on top of the property as they prepare to drape the banner over it
Activists stand on top of the roof as they get the ‘oily-black fabric’ banner ready to drop
The Prime Minister said he is confident he can win them over with his argument that the UK can reach net zero by 2050 while continuing to drill for fossil fuels.
He told LBC Radio yesterday that the girls, Krishna and Anoushka, are not ‘eco-zealots’ and are ‘open to sensible, practical arguments’.
His comments came as he was being questioned about his decision to grant more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction in the North Sea, for which he is facing a growing backlash for allegedly betraying climate pledges.
The plans have been criticised by climate campaigners, opposition parties and even leading green Conservatives amid fears of how they will affect the UK’s mission to slash greenhouse gas emissions.
The activists drape the home in what they describe as 200m (650f) of ‘oily-black fabric’ today
Greenpeace activists work together to carry out the stunt at the property in Yorkshire today
Two further activists on the grass at the Yorkshire property unfurl a banner at the same time
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps met with industry leaders in Downing Street yesterday to discuss the Government’s decision to invest in home-grown energy sources, including renewables, nuclear power and backing North Sea oil and gas.
Downing Street said Mr Sunak’s trip to the US is the first time since 2019 when he became chief secretary to the Treasury that he has taken time off with his family.
His previous attempts at foreign holidays have been curtailed by events. A trip to Ibiza last September was cut short after just 15 hours by the Queen’s death.
He had planned to spend Christmas in 2021 in California with his family until omicron cases began surging in the UK, forcing him to drop the holiday plan.
