M25 delays: Furious motorists blast climate protesters for 'making them buy more petrol'
13 September 2021, 12:19 | Updated: 13 September 2021, 12:45
Man forcibly drags Insulate Britain protestor on M25 near Heathrow
Furious motorists have blasted climate protesters for 'making them buy more petrol' after they were held up in long queues due to demonstrations on the M25.
Insulate Britain took to the country's busiest motorway to grab the attention of politicians over the climate emergency.
However, they have been widely criticised for their disruption, having caused delays for the general public in the process.
On Monday morning, a driver was seen storming out of his car towards protesters, forcibly attempting to drag one away.
There has also been fury online, with thousands of travellers complaining about having their journeys disrupted.
An HGV driver slammed the group for showing "stupidity of the highest order" in their attempts to demonstrate.
Meanwhile, one worker from an insulating firm saw the irony in the situation, after they were stopped from going to work due to the traffic build up.
Read more: ‘Insulate Britain’ protesters spark massive delays as they invade M25 in climate protest
Read more: M25 traffic cameras capture vast queues sparked by Insulate Britain protest
Protest yes...but not on junctions of the M25, your actions caused tail backs and danger on one of the most dangerous roads in the country and that is stupidity of the highest order. My hgv has produced a lot more emissions this morning due to start stop driving, THINK!
— Mark Burrows (@mark_mrb69) September 13, 2021
A mate is stuck in this, the irony is we are Thermal Insulation Engineers (Laggers) who have been insulating Britain for decades but can't get to work because of Insulate Britain protests pic.twitter.com/UhdybIlptc
— Redmite (@cryoeng) September 13, 2021
One person told LBC's Nick Ferrari that they found the action counter-productive after they had been forced to fill up their petrol tank after sitting in a long queue with the engine running.
Another appeared to be deterred from the cause, criticising the group for being "out of control".
@NickFerrariLBC There are protesters at the end of the A20 which meets the M25 motorway now I have to get some more petrol because I have to take a longer route going back down the a A20. I think that makes it counter-productive
— iforce (@nowistoday) September 13, 2021
Ok we get it.... Climate change is important but these insulate Britain are out of control by doing this in M25. Do they even understand how dangerous it’s by blocking M25?
— sudanesebridal (@sudanesebridal) September 13, 2021
In an open message to the group, a user labelled their latest move as "pathetic civil disobedience" that would not help in the long run.
Someone else said they almost lost their job because of the delays, arriving 45 minutes late on their first day.
In response to an Insulate Britain tweet saying they wanted to "create hundreds of thousands of jobs", the user said: "CREATE THOUSANDS!? You nearly made me loose mine this morning!
"It was my first day and you made me 45 minutes late! I actively reduce my carbon footprint and I drive a plug in car."
Dear Insulate Britain: your pathetic civil disobedience isn't sticking it to BP, the Government or anyone else.
— freedfromthestyyeah (@freedfromthest1) September 13, 2021
You are stopping people getting to hospital appointments, trades people earning, carers visiting clients.
You will change nothing and win 0 support.
Insulate Britain has said that their intervention on the M25 is "just the start" with more demonstrations expected later in the week.
Their reasoning behind the standstill was to get the government to insulate all of Britain’s homes and create a "legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit".
At least 42 arrests were made in connection with the disruption.
