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Insulate Britain will suspend protests until October 25

Insulate Britain has suspended its motorway protests.

The announcement was made this morning as campaign group spokesman Liam Norton prepares to hand deliver a letter to the Prime Minister at 1pm.

Insulate Britain block the M25
Insulate Britain block the M25

The move comes a day after protesters walked in front of traffic for the 13th time in five weeks, bring the M25 to a standstill and blocking an Essex industrial estate in the shadow of the Dartford Crossing.

In the letter Mr Norton will channel Winston Churchill, using the quote: “Owing to past neglect, in the face of the plainest of warnings, we have entered upon a period of danger. The era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing baffling expedients, of delays is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequence.”

He will say the group "profoundly acknowledge the disruption caused" but stress the "dire circumstances" made the actions necessary.

"The collapse of the climate is happening around us. We face economic chaos and the breakdown of law and order in a matter of years. We will lose our incomes, pensions, and savings while passing on an appalling legacy to our children. They will be rightly furious. Around the world thousands of millions of people will lose their lives through slaughter and starvation as crops fail and society collapses," he will add.

Protesters walk onto the M25 yesterday

He will then explain ahead of climate summit COP26 the group will suspend its activities until Monday, October 25, in the hope the Boris Johnson will "make a meaningful statement that we can trust".

COP26 starts on Sunday, October 31.

Insulate Britain is calling on the UK government to take responsibility for and fully fund a national home insulation programme.

It says its actions will continue until the government makes a meaningful statement indicating its intention to insulate all of Britain’s 29 million leaky homes by 2030, and all social housing by 2025.

Ministers say legal proceedings have begun against green activists who face fines or prison for blocking the M25.

A High Court injunction obtained by the government on September 22 means anyone blocking the motorway could be found to be in contempt of court, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison or an unlimited fine.

Essex Police arrest Insulate Britain
Essex Police arrest Insulate Britain

But protesters have continued to defy the message and stage more protests despite the threat of court action.

Liam Norton from Insulate Britain said: “In 10 years time when fuel crises are catastrophic, when the food has run out and when people are experiencing unsurvivable heat waves, what would you be wishing you had done now?

“We think you’ll be wishing you had sat on the road with Insulate Britain doing whatever it took to protect current and future generations. So come join us on the road.”

Dr Diana Warner, an Insulate Britain supporter, said: "Many people are going out of their way to thank us. Some come out of their cars to thank us, some are police officers involved with our arrests. To them, we bring hope - we haven't yet given up. We are still pushing for life saving changes.

“It is a big step to move from thanking us to taking action. But if you make some move to help us, however small, you will be helping us to achieve change. Please check out the website insulatebritain.com "

Insulate Britain block the M25 Picture: IB
Insulate Britain block the M25 Picture: IB
Essex Police arrest Insulate Britain
Essex Police arrest Insulate Britain

After yesterday's incident Essex Police made 35 arrests.

Read more: All the latest news from Dartford

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