Scarborough protestor: 'New Public Order Bill won't stop us'
The law was introduced in yesterday's Queen's Speech giving more powers to tackle activists
A protestor from Scarborough says a new bill introducing powers to tackle activists will not stop them.
The law was introduced in yesterday's Queen's Speech.
Theresa Norton holds protests as part of Insulate Britain and she is also a Scarborough Borough Councillor.
She said: "I think for us people like myself who's been involved with Insulate Britain, we consider ourselves in 'civil resistance' and it will not stop us from taking action.
"There are a lot of us that have no assets whatsoever. I mean I have my flat and I don't know if they want to take that one day, perhaps they will. Some people have some assets but realise there's no point in being a grandma with £60,000 in the bank if their kids and grandkids have no future.
"Our Government has been in power for 10-11 years and in 2015, they went to the Paris COP15, made all these marvellous promises and did all the backpatting and cheering. Now, what has happened? Nothing in real terms. They're talking but they're not changing policy.
"There are 14 people in prison now and I've also done my two weeks in prison for contempt of court. We do what we do. We own up to what we've done. We accept the consequences and we just hope that, what we see as our sacrifice, will bring more people on board because we are in the right and the Government are not.
"I'm a Councillor on the planning committee here and I can't tell you how frustrating it is to have to keep passing housing developments more and more that are just not future proof. It's now to the point that I think there is now only peaceful, non-violent direct action left available for me."
Crackdown on 'guerilla protests'
The speech included a new crackdown on “guerrilla protests” with jail sentences of up to six months and unlimited fines for those who glue themselves to roads or “lock on” to public transport infrastructure.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said the measures were necessary to prevent protest groups like Insulate Britain and Extinction Rebellion from bringing the country to “a grinding halt”.
Ministers had originally tried to introduce them through the now-passed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, but were blocked by the House of Lords.