This is the startling moment eco-warriors from Insulate Britain take their lives in their own hands and step out onto the M25 dwarfed by huge HGVs.
They quickly moved to glue themselves down as HGV drivers caught in the road block beep in a bid to get them to clear the way.
All nine protesters were eventually dragged off the road by Essex police officers and arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway.
An Insulate Britain Spokesperson defended the tactic: “The people are waiting at the side for a red light and only go on the road when the lights change and traffic is stationary.
“It’s not super clear in that video but that’s what the process is.”
The actions come as a perfect storm of supply chain problems has been sparked by lack of HGV drivers.
It has caused some petrol stations to run dry across the capital.
One activist said the fuel crisis has escalated their protests so people could get the message “as they sat in long queues for petrol”.
Below: me, a few days ago, giving everyone fair warning that we would modify our tactics, and today, we modified our tactics and mounted TWO protests in just one day to get our #InsulateBritain message seen by people in long queues for petrol.https://t.co/2FQcD6z4Mg
— Phillipa Windsor (@PhillipaWindsor) September 29, 2021
Insulate Britain, which is calling on the Government to insulate all UK homes by 2030 to cut carbon emissions, said in a statement: “We are raising the tempo this week as, despite the urgency of the situation, there has been no meaningful response from the Government to our demands.
“We are deeply concerned that with rising fuel bills and not enough action on insulation, there will be further unnecessary suffering and deaths among the most vulnerable this winter.
“It’s not just cold and hungry Britain, it’s billions of pounds wasted on fuel costs for everyone. Failing to help hardworking families, failing to stop poverty fuel deaths, failing to protect the country we love from the biggest threat it has ever faced.
“We need our Government to keep us safe. Boris, get on with the job.”
The group added its actions “are in breach of a High Court injunction” obtained by the government last week.
The injunction means anyone blocking the M25 could be found to be in contempt of court which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Wednesday that “reckless protesters” have “already had knocks on their doors”.
He went on: “We are serving papers and those who continue these idiotic, dangerous and counterproductive demonstrations will be caught and face unlimited fines or prison.”
