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Longfield man Ezah Smith confronts Insulate Britain protesters as they block M25 Swanley junction

An irate driver was joined by a health worker as he confronted climate change protesters at a motorway junction, asking them 'do you want someone to die?'

Ezah Smith challenged Insulate Britain protesters as they blocked Swanley Interchange and footage of the incident has gained more than a million views on TikTok.

Ezah Smith confronts Insulate Britain

Police were called twice to the location at Junction 3 of the M25, arresting 11 people who had glued themselves to the road in the morning, and a further 16 people later that day, who were arrested on suspicion of obstructing the highway and conspiracy to commit criminal damage.

In the footage Mr Smith, 38, can be heard asking: "Do you want someone to die? Find a better way of making a point. Stand here, put a big sign up, we'll all back you up. You're not saving the world, all you're doing is causing people trouble and hurt. You're causing pain and sorrow."

When he asks police if he can move the protesters himself, Mr Smith is informed he would "get nicked for common assault mate", before he asks why police aren't moving them.

"We don't have the legal power sir," he's told, before a voice adds. "We will be moving them but not at this second. We need resources."

The climate protesters can be heard trying to explain that they are trying to get a message to the government, and that civil disobedience is a proven method of doing that, before Mr Smith is joined by a health worker.

Ezah Smith from Longfield confronted protesters at Swanley Interchange
Ezah Smith from Longfield confronted protesters at Swanley Interchange

"Were you trying to save someone's life today?" asks Mr Smith.

"My patient is waiting in A&E," the man responds.

One of the protesters then adds "Have you heard about 8,500 people dying every year?"

Sales manager Mr Smith later said he believed the vast majority of people backed his point of view.

"I've had over a million views on one post, 4-5,000 follows and more than 120,000 people have liked it," he said. "They could make their point differently and a lot more people would support them."

Climate change protesters confronted by Ezah Smith at Swanley Interchange
Climate change protesters confronted by Ezah Smith at Swanley Interchange

And he said while the protest was an inconvenience for him and his wife, it had no doubt affected others more seriously.

"I'd dropped kids off at school and me and my wife were just going out to get a bit of shopping," he explained. "We both work from home. I saw these people and I thought 'what's going on?' People have got lives to live - we've all got lives to live and day to day tasks. I had to get back on time because we would then have the school run.

"Just how many parents have had to fork out the extra money for after school child care when they can't afford it? It all causes more pollution too. I think they should get a big flyer maybe and get people to honk their horns if they support them.

"They're not achieving anything."

Insulate Britain says actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful commitment to insulate all of Britain’s 29 million 'leaky homes' by 2030.

A spokesman for the group said on Wednesday: "We are going nowhere. You can raid our savings. You can confiscate our property. You can deny us our liberty and put us behind bars.

"But shooting the messenger can never destroy the message: that this country is going to hell unless you take emergency action to stop putting carbon into the air. Boris get on with the job.”

To view Ezah Smith's TikTok posts click here.

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