British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Tuesday that climate change activists who blocked major roads into London were ‘irresponsible crusties’ who were hindering law-abiding people from going about their business.
“I think they’re irresponsible crusties who are basically trying to stop people going about their day’s work and doing considerable damage to the economy,” Johnson told LBC radio.
About 50 campaigners from Insulate Britain, which wants the government to commit to providing insulation for 29 million homes, blocked busy routes into the city on Monday, triggering huge tailbacks and chaos for drivers navigating rush hour traffic.
Police said they had made 38 arrests for disruption of the highway and conspiracy to cause public nuisance.
It is the 11th such action by the group in recent weeks, following previous protests which have seen blockades of the busy M25 London orbital motorway and roads to the Port of Dover.
(Reuters)
