Greenpeace activists drape Sunak’s £2m North Yorkshire mansion in oil-black fabric
It's in protest at the Prime Minister's backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling schemes
Four Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of the Prime Minister’s £2m manor house in North Yorkshire earlier this morning (Thursday, 8 August) in protest at his backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling amidst a summer of escalating climate impacts.
After reaching the top of the building using ladders and climbing ropes, the activists unfolded 200 sq metres of oil-black fabric to cover a whole side of the luxury mansion.
At the same time, two activists unfurled a banner emblazoned with the words “Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?” across the grass in front of the manor house.
Sunak’s government has come under heavy criticism for pushing ahead with plans to hand out around 100 new oil and gas licences in the North Sea, and even hinting at additional ones in future.
The Prime Minister has also indicated that he will approve drilling at Rosebank - the UK’s largest undeveloped oil field.
Campaigners are warning that any new oil and gas from the North Sea will do nothing for the UK's energy security or bills despite government rhetoric. The companies that own it will simply export it overseas, and any that is sold back to us will be done so at the international market price.
Commenting on the protest, Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said:
“We desperately need our prime minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist. Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling. He seems quite happy to hold a blowtorch to the planet if he can score a few political points by sowing division around climate in this country. This is cynical beyond belief.
“Sunak is even willing to peddle the old myth about new oil and gas helping ordinary people struggling with energy bills when he knows full well it’s not true. More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak’s own windfall tax.
“The experts are clear - we can’t afford any new oil and gas, and the fossil fuel industry certainly doesn’t need another helping hand in destroying the climate. What we need is a clean, affordable energy system fit for the 21st century. It’s time for Sunak to choose between Big Oil’s profits or our future on a habitable planet.”