Eco-fanatics precipitated outrage yesterday by defacing Stonehenge on the eve of the summer season solstice.
Simply Cease Oil activists used fireplace extinguishers to spray orange powder paint on at the least three of the traditional stones earlier than calmly sitting down cross-legged in entrance of the world-famous web site.
Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer confirmed a uncommon united entrance of their condemnation of the stunt, which raised new questions in regards to the traditionally intimate relationship between the Labour Get together and Simply Cease Oil.
The Prime Minister described it as a ‘disgraceful act of vandalism’, whereas the Labour chief branded the group ‘pathetic’.
But Labour was accused of ‘fake outrage’ after JSO boasted of planning its motion ‘days after the Labour Get together recommitted to halting all future oil and gasoline licences’ – a coverage the activists declare was influenced by their extremist road-blocking techniques.
Simply Cease Oil activists use fireplace extinguishers to spray orange powder paint on Stonehenge
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak described it as a ‘disgraceful act of vandalism’
Mr Sunak rounded on main Labour backer Dale Vince, who, till final yr, bankrolled the environmental protest motion.
He mentioned: ‘This can be a disgraceful act of vandalism. Simply Cease Oil must be ashamed of their activists they usually and anybody related to them, together with a sure Labour celebration donor, ought to concern a condemnation of this shameful act instantly.’
Vitality Secretary Claire Coutinho added: ‘Labour’s fake outrage on the Stonehenge vandalism would carry much more weight if Simply Cease Oil hadn’t additionally thanked Labour for enacting ‘their calls for’ of their press launch at the moment.
We should not enable Britain’s vitality coverage to be dictated by fanatics.’
Labour has accepted greater than £5 million from Mr Vince, together with £1 million after the election was referred to as.
The inexperienced vitality tycoon supported JSO from its basis and donated at the least £340,000 earlier than chopping off the money final October.
Sir Keir has beforehand come beneath fireplace for refusing to return any cash donated by Mr Vince and has vehemently denied claims that the Ecotricity boss wields any affect over Labour coverage.
Mr Vince mentioned: ‘Since Rishi Sunak has requested me personally to remark, I’ll. I do not help what JSO did at the moment.’
However the shut relationship with Mr Vince, who Sir Keir met simply days earlier than revealing a plan to dam all new oil and gasoline licences within the North Sea final yr – coupled with the celebration’s earlier opposition to toughening up legal guidelines round disruptive protests – has left questions over whether or not Labour might be trusted to crack down on such behaviour.
Main Labour backer Dale Vince (pictured), who, till final yr, bankrolled the environmental protest motion
Labour has accepted greater than £5 million from Mr Vince (pictured at a Simply Cease Oil protest in 2023), together with £1 million after the election was referred to as
Members of the general public have been seen making an attempt to forestall the protesters by dragging them away
Protestors Rajan Naidu (left) and Oxford scholar Niamh Lynch (proper) calmly sit down cross-legged in entrance of the world-famous web site
Sir Keir tweeted yesterday: ‘The injury completed to Stonehenge is outrageous. Simply Cease Oil are pathetic. These accountable should face the complete pressure of the regulation.’
Footage of the surprising incident at midday yesterday reveals horrified onlookers shouting ‘no’ whereas making an attempt to pull the vandals away from the 5,000-year-old web site.
Police arrested two protesters – named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, from Birmingham, and Oxford scholar Niamh Lynch, 21 – on ‘suspicion of damaging the traditional monument’.
Lynch mentioned in a press release: ‘Stonehenge at solstice is all about celebrating the pure world – however take a look at the state it is in! Standing inert for generations works nicely for stones – not local weather coverage.’
Naidu, who is known to be a Quaker, added: ‘Both we finish the fossil-fuel period, or the fossil-fuel period will finish us.’
Round 8,000 folks gathered at Stonehenge to mark the longest day of the yr in 2023, with related numbers anticipated at the moment.
English Heritage mentioned it anticipated the solstice turnout to go forward from 7pm till 8am tomorrow.
Conservative minister Simon Hoare joined the refrain of criticism final evening. ‘The complete weight of the regulation is required. I’d incarcerate them on an outdated oil rig.’
Fellow Tory Alex Stafford mentioned: ‘It is completely disgusting – these senseless vandals don’t have any appreciation for our historical past and heritage. All they’ll do is destroy reasonably than create.’
Sir Keir tweeted yesterday: ‘The injury completed to Stonehenge is outrageous. Simply Cease Oil are pathetic. These accountable should face the complete pressure of the regulation’
Nick Kendrick, 55, who has been a Stonehenge tour information for greater than 30 years, mentioned: ‘There are 79 totally different species of lichen which develop on these rocks.
‘These lichen are alive and assist defend the stone and (they) will certainly have been harmed by this idiotic stunt.’
Simply Cease Oil mentioned: ‘Persevering with to burn coal, oil and gasoline will end result within the loss of life of thousands and thousands. We have now to return collectively to defend humanity or we threat all the pieces.’
