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Eco mob blocks Park Lane and spray paint Aston Martin showroom in latest London protest

Furious black cab driver hauled eco zealots Just Stop Oil out of Park Lane as they attempted to block the road and sprayed paint over an Aston Martin showroom in their latest display.

One motorist bellowed at them: ‘People have got f****** work to go to’ while another added ‘people are trying to go to hospital’. 

The protesters, now on their 16th day of disruption, descended on the famous London highway just after 11am with 14 of them blocking it with barriers after gluing themselves to the tarmac.

Moments later a supporter sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism.

Among them were a pregnant mother and a musician who all vowed to continue with their deeply divisive campaign.

Chloe Thomas, 19, from Cannock said: ‘I’m 15 weeks pregnant this week. Today, we’re out here on the road together, demanding no new oil. How do I explain to my daughter in the years to come where the animals went, where the culture went, where the beauty went, why there are no bees and why I can’t put food in her tummy?

‘You know it’s bad, don’t you? As citizens, as humans, as parents and children we have a responsibility and a right under British law to protect ourselves and those we love. ‘

David Kearns, 45, a musician from Birmingham added: ‘I can not stand by and allow this government to continue destroying everything we love for the sake of nothing but profit.

‘The climate crisis is a product of greed, just as the cost of living crisis is a product of greed and I will not comply with a system that puts profits before the people and the planet. ‘

It came just hours after Suella Braverman slammed the activists as ‘thugs’ and told the Metropolitan Police and told them to ‘do a better job’. 

Meanwhile, protest group Extinction Rebellion marched through Hyde Park on Sunday. Prime Minister Liz Truss has said the group is part of an ‘anti-growth coalition’ with trade unions and the main opposition Labour party determined to derail her economic reforms. 

One motorist bellowed at them: ‘People have got f****** work to go to’ while another added ‘people are trying to go to hospital’

Members of the public were not amused by the protest group's activities and removed them themselves from the road

Members of the public were not amused by the protest group’s activities and removed them themselves from the road

Just Stop Oil sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism

Just Stop Oil sprayed orange paint over the Aston Martin car showroom in an apparent spontaneous act of vandalism

An activist from just stop oil sprays orange paint on an Aston Martin Store on Park Lane as other members of Just Stop Oil block roads near Park Lane

An activist from just stop oil sprays orange paint on an Aston Martin Store on Park Lane as other members of Just Stop Oil block roads near Park Lane

The spray painter somehow found themselves on the floor and appeared to have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police

The spray painter somehow found themselves on the floor and appeared to have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police

A taxi driver and a cyclist snatch banners from and drag away activists from Just Stop Oil after they blocked Park Lane

A taxi driver and a cyclist snatch banners from and drag away activists from Just Stop Oil after they blocked Park Lane

A member of the public confronts Just Stop Oil demonstrators blocking traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

A member of the public confronts Just Stop Oil demonstrators blocking traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

Suella Braverman fiercely attacked eco-protesters and the Metropolitan Police in an article for The Mail On Sunday last night - telling police to 'do a better job'

Suella Braverman fiercely attacked eco-protesters and the Metropolitan Police in an article for The Mail On Sunday last night – telling police to ‘do a better job’

Climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion marches into central London at a demonstration on Sunday

Climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion marches into central London at a demonstration on Sunday

She lambasted protesters for their ‘imagined right to bully’ the rest of the public, adding: ‘Who do they think they are?’

It followed a 15th successive day of protests by Just Stop Oil, who blocked roads in central London again today, and more protests by vegan activists Animal Rebellion which included pouring milk on the floor and meat counters in luxury shops such as Fortnum and Mason. 

Ms Braverman labelled the climate activists ‘so-called protesters’ and added that ‘democracies reach decisions in a civilised manner.’

Her criticism wasn’t just reserved for the activists themselves, she also issued a stark warning to the police: ‘I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals – as does the public.’

Referring to activists such as those from Just Stop Oil and Insulate Britain, she said protesters who glue themselves to the road are ‘wildy irresponsible, idiotic, and risking lives.’ 

She threatened future ‘serious penalties in order to deter public disorder’ in her article in The Mail On Sunday. 

Her comments come ahead of the Public Order Bill returning to Parliament this week, which the government is hoping will strengthen officers’ powers to deal with protesters more quickly. Proposed measures include more stop and search powers to enable police to look for items such as superglue.

Police officers are pictured in front of the Ashton Martin showroom in London after an activist threw paint on the display

Police officers are pictured in front of the Ashton Martin showroom in London after an activist threw paint on the display

A Just Stop Oil demonstrator sprays an orange substance on the Aston Martin store in Mayfair, London on Sunday

A Just Stop Oil demonstrator sprays an orange substance on the Aston Martin store in Mayfair, London on Sunday

A cyclist tries to move Just Stop Oil demonstrators out of the way of traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

A cyclist tries to move Just Stop Oil demonstrators out of the way of traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

Police are pictured with Just Stop Oil protesters who have blocked Park Lane in central London and sprayed paint over a Aston Martin car showroom

Police are pictured with Just Stop Oil protesters who have blocked Park Lane in central London and sprayed paint over a Aston Martin car showroom

Police officers remove Just Stop Oil demonstrators blocking traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

Police officers remove Just Stop Oil demonstrators blocking traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday

Police officers arrest a Just Stop Oil demonstrator that sprayed an orange substance on an Aston Martin store in Mayfair

Police officers arrest a Just Stop Oil demonstrator that sprayed an orange substance on an Aston Martin store in Mayfair

A Just Stop Oil protester is pictured on the ground in Mayfair on Sunday as police take them into custody

A Just Stop Oil protester is pictured on the ground in Mayfair on Sunday as police take them into custody

A member of the public falls over after dragging a Just Stop Oil demonstrator out of the way of traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair

A member of the public falls over after dragging a Just Stop Oil demonstrator out of the way of traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair

An Aston Martin car showroom on Park Lane in central London has been sprayed with paint by Just Stop Oil protesters

An Aston Martin car showroom on Park Lane in central London has been sprayed with paint by Just Stop Oil protesters

Extinction Rebellion protesters assembled in Hyde Park on Sunday

Extinction Rebellion protesters assembled in Hyde Park on Sunday

Protesters march into central London on Sunday at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion

Protesters march into central London on Sunday at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion

An Extinction Rebellion protesters holds a sign that reads: 'Don't Trusst the System.' PM Liz Truss has said that Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion were part of an "anti-growth coalition" with trade unions and the main opposition Labour party determined to derail her economic reforms

An Extinction Rebellion protesters holds a sign that reads: ‘Don’t Trusst the System.’ PM Liz Truss has said that Greenpeace and Extinction Rebellion were part of an ‘anti-growth coalition’ with trade unions and the main opposition Labour party determined to derail her economic reforms

The Public Order Bill is a major piece of legislation which will introduce a raft of new measures aimed at curbing protests.

Accusing protesters of draining police resources, Ms Braverman will use the bill to allow secretaries of state to apply for injunctions in the ‘public interest’ where protests are causing or threatening ‘serious disruption or a serious adverse impact on public safety’. 

According to the Home Office, this will include protecting access to ‘essential’ goods, services and key infrastructure. 

Ms Braverman said: ‘I will not bend to protestors attempting to hold the British public to ransom. ‘Preventing our emergency services from reaching those who desperately need them is indefensible, hideously selfish and in no way in the public interest. 

‘This serious and dangerous disruption, let alone the vandalism, is not a freedom of expression, nor a human right. It must stop.’ 

The Home Office said the proposed public order legislation would create a new criminal offence of interfering with infrastructure such as oil refineries, airports, railways and printing presses. Such an offence would carry a maximum sentence of 12 months in prison, an unlimited fine, or both. 

‘Locking on’ or ‘going equipped to lock-on’ to other people, objects or buildings to cause ‘serious disruption’ could see people imprisoned for six months or hit with an unlimited fine. 

Extinction Rebellion protesters are pictured in Hyde Park on Sunday. One is holding a sign that reads: 'No economic growth on a dead planet'

Extinction Rebellion protesters are pictured in Hyde Park on Sunday. One is holding a sign that reads: ‘No economic growth on a dead planet’

Protesters march past Buckingham Palace, into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion, on Sunday

Protesters march past Buckingham Palace, into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion, on Sunday

Protesters march past The Queen Victoria Memorial, into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion on Sunday

Protesters march past The Queen Victoria Memorial, into central London at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion on Sunday

A protester sporting an 'act now' hair piece is pictured at Extinction Rebellion's demonstration in Hyde Park on Sunday

A protester sporting an ‘act now’ hair piece is pictured at Extinction Rebellion’s demonstration in Hyde Park on Sunday

Protesters march into central london at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion on Sunday

Protesters march into central london at a demonstration by the climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion on Sunday

Police officers arrest a Just Stop Oil demonstrator that sprayed an orange substance on an Aston Martin store in Mayfair

Police officers arrest a Just Stop Oil demonstrator that sprayed an orange substance on an Aston Martin store in Mayfair

Police are pictured on Sunday with Just Stop Oil protesters who have blocked Park Lane in central London and sprayed paint over a Aston Martin car showroom

Police are pictured on Sunday with Just Stop Oil protesters who have blocked Park Lane in central London and sprayed paint over a Aston Martin car showroom

Members of the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil hold a banner as they block Park Lane in central London on Sunday

Members of the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil hold a banner as they block Park Lane in central London on Sunday

A photograph taken on Sunday shows a fire extinguisher filled with paint and used to spray orange paint on the window shop of the Aston Martin car show room

A photograph taken on Sunday shows a fire extinguisher filled with paint and used to spray orange paint on the window shop of the Aston Martin car show room

Just Stop Oil demonstrators block traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday. Just Stop Oil opposes the government issuing any new licenses or consents for the development, exploration and production of fossil fuels in the UK

Just Stop Oil demonstrators block traffic on Park Lane in Mayfair on Sunday. Just Stop Oil opposes the government issuing any new licenses or consents for the development, exploration and production of fossil fuels in the UK

A new criminal office of tunnelling to cause serious disruption is also being created, which will carry a maximum penalty of three years’ imprisonment as well as the potential for an unlimited fine. 

An offence of going equipped to tunnel will also be created. 

The Public Order Bill will return to Parliament next week and Ms Braverman said it is ‘high time’ MPs back it. 

‘The police need strengthened and tougher powers to match the rise in self-defeating protest tactics and that’s what the Public Order Bill will do. 

‘It’s high time Parliament got behind it and put the law-abiding majority first.’ 

The Home Office is also promising that stop-and-search measures and new serious disruption prevention orders will support the police, with the latter targeting those repeatedly convicted of protest-related offences. 

Animal Rebellion, an off shoot of Extinction Rebellion, today shocked Saturday shoppers as they organised a co-ordinated ‘milk pour’ targeting upmarket stores across the country.

A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products

A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products

Supporters of Animal Rebellion dump litres of milk onto a Marks and Spencers floor as they demand a 'plant-based future' from the government

Supporters of Animal Rebellion dump litres of milk onto a Marks and Spencers floor as they demand a ‘plant-based future’ from the government

The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the zealots, who object to animal-based products such as meat and milk

The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the zealots, who object to animal-based products such as meat and milk

The eco-mob hit a Waitrose in Edinburgh, targeting upmarket stores as they call for a transition to a plant-based future

The eco-mob hit a Waitrose in Edinburgh, targeting upmarket stores as they call for a transition to a plant-based future

Eco-protesters in Manchester poured milk all over the floor beside the meat aisle in Marks and Spencers

Eco-protesters in Manchester poured milk all over the floor beside the meat aisle in Marks and Spencers

Protesters strike at Harrods as bemused and nonplussed Saturday shoppers watch or try to get on with their shopping

Protesters strike at Harrods as bemused and nonplussed Saturday shoppers watch or try to get on with their shopping

Activists grabbed milk from shelves at multiple stores such as Waitrose, Whole Foods and Marks and Spencer throughout the country, including in London, Norwich, Manchester and Edinburgh and dumped it over the floors and counters.

The young climate activists held signs calling for a plant-based future, a reference to the high carbon footprint of animal products. 

The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the organisation, while in Fortnum & Mason the cheese counter was vandalised.

In a video of a ‘milk pour’ at a Marks and Spencers in Manchester, a man is heard telling the protesters: ‘Plant-based future? Take your shoes off then, they’re not plant-based.’ 

Animal Rebellion said it is highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system.

Skylar Sharples, an international development University of Sussex graduate, from Bristol and one of the protesters at Harrods, said: ‘Supporters of Animal Rebellion are back acting because (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are again deciding to ignore calls to start building a better future.

‘A plant-based future would see a beautiful world for us all, thriving with nature and life.

‘The steps to properly support farmers in this transition need to begin now.’

Skylar Sharples (pictured), an international development graduate from Bristol and one of the protesters at Harrods, said: 'Supporters of Animal Rebellion are back acting because (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are again deciding to ignore calls to start building a better future

Skylar Sharples (pictured), an international development graduate from Bristol and one of the protesters at Harrods, said: ‘Supporters of Animal Rebellion are back acting because (Prime Minister) Liz Truss and Ranil Jayawardena (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) are again deciding to ignore calls to start building a better future

Milk pours happened in Marks and Spencers in Manchester on Market Street, beside the steak section

Milk pours happened in Marks and Spencers in Manchester on Market Street, beside the steak section

A pair of protesters march up to the milk aisle in a Waitrose in Edinbrugh and proceed to systematically pour out gallons of milk onto the floor

A pair of protesters march up to the milk aisle in a Waitrose in Edinbrugh and proceed to systematically pour out gallons of milk onto the floor

One bystander approaches an eco-zealot to remonstrate with her while she was in the midst of a rant against the dairy industry

One bystander approaches an eco-zealot to remonstrate with her while she was in the midst of a rant against the dairy industry

Shoppers looked over as protesters poured out cartons of milk onto the floor of Marks and Spencers in Manchester

Shoppers looked over as protesters poured out cartons of milk onto the floor of Marks and Spencers in Manchester

Animal Rebellion said it is calling for a plant-based future and highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system

Animal Rebellion said it is calling for a plant-based future and highlighting the need to support farmers in transitioning to a sustainable plant-based food system

The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the eco mob, while in Fortnum & Mason - two of London's poshest shops - the cheese counter was vandalised

The meat counter at Harrods was targeted by the eco mob, while in Fortnum & Mason – two of London’s poshest shops – the cheese counter was vandalised

A shopper looks frustrated as protesters empty gallons of milk onto the floor of a Marks and Spencers

A shopper looks frustrated as protesters empty gallons of milk onto the floor of a Marks and Spencers 

Protesters raid the cheese section of upmarket Fortnum & Mason's in Piccadilly, grabbing milk and pouring it out onto the shop floor

Protesters raid the cheese section of upmarket Fortnum & Mason’s in Piccadilly, grabbing milk and pouring it out onto the shop floor

Protesters with baskets of milk moments before it was poured all over the floor

Protesters with baskets of milk moments before it was poured all over the floor 

Lou Hadden, a charity worker from Herefordshire who joined the action at Fortnum and Mason, said: ‘This is not how I imagined spending my weekend.

‘Unfortunately, this disruption is necessary to get those in power to listen to the academics at Oxford, Harvard and the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

‘The world’s best climate and land scientists are calling for the transition to a plant-based food system.

‘We need bold and decisive politics at this time, not the horror show we currently see.’

‘Milk Pours are currently happening across the UK. All are concerned individuals calling on the government to give us a livable future, a #PlantBasedFuture,’ Animal Rebellion tweeted this afternoon.

‘Animal Rebellion supporters have just poured out milk across the floor and over other dairy products at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly,’ came another tweet. 

‘We are calling on the government to support farmers in a transition to a plant-based food system.’ 

‘The dairy companies are responsible for the majority of methane emissions,’ one protester shouted out as she busily poured milk onto the floor in the Waitrose milk aisle.

She was interrupted by a bystander coming up to remonstrate with her. 

‘We’re all about peaceful protests and non-violence, we’re just calling out the injustice of the industry,’ she says to the man, before continuing her rant.

The same group struck Fortnum & Masons just two weeks ago when activists from the group sparked fury by pouring milk over two high-end London department stores in a protest against dairy products.

Meanwhile Furious road users resorted to dragging eco protesters out of the road and begged them to move today as Just Stop Oil blocked busy Shoreditch High Street in East London

At least 26 people were arrested at the junction after the Met Police arrived to unglue and remove the dozens of protestors blocking up the streets on the 15th consecutive day of disruption by the eco-zealots.  

A man is hauled away by police officers on Shoreditch High Street on Saturday afternoon after having taken part in the latest eco-warrior protest in London

A man is hauled away by police officers on Shoreditch High Street on Saturday afternoon after having taken part in the latest eco-warrior protest in London 

Metropolitan Police arrested at least 26 people as they cleared Just Stop Oil protesters off the street on Saturday afternoon

Metropolitan Police arrested at least 26 people as they cleared Just Stop Oil protesters off the street on Saturday afternoon 

An enraged motorist tries to grab the eco-warriors banner as they sit in the middle of the East London road on Saturday

An enraged motorist tries to grab the eco-warriors banner as they sit in the middle of the East London road on Saturday

A member of the public drags away a Just Stop Oil protester blocking the busy junction on Shoreditch High Street on Saturday

A member of the public drags away a Just Stop Oil protester blocking the busy junction on Shoreditch High Street on Saturday

In one clip of the disruption, caused by 29 protesters who glued themselves to the road just after 12pm, a van driver claims he desperately needs to get his sick wife to hospital.

Tensions between the driver and activists reached boiling point when he drove towards members of the group sitting in the middle of the road. 

Several protesters jump up as the van approaches while a woman is heard screaming ‘No! Don’t do it!’ 

Members of the public film the driver as one asks him ‘Where are you going to go?’ before he explains: ‘My Mrs is not well, she needs to get to a hospital.’

‘Have some respect for other people,’ he added during the intense exchange. 

‘There’s other people who need to get to places.’

Meanwhile, another driver pleaded with the activists to get out the road before physically trying to remove them.

The fuming man can be seen snatching a banner off the Just Stop Oil protesters before yelling: ‘You all use fuel in some way or another… this is ridiculous get out the way!’

In a statement the group said: ‘Just after 12pm, 29 supporters of Just Stop Oil disrupted traffic in Shoreditch on the fifteenth day of action during October. They are demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.

‘Supporters established a roadblock on Shoreditch High Street at the junction of Great Eastern Street, by sitting in the road with banners and gluing themselves to the tarmac.’

More than 350 Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested in London since the start of October, according to Home Office figures. 

The Home Secretary and Mayor of London Sadiq Khan are set to attend a meeting chaired by Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Nadhim Zahawi, where the recent protests are expected to be discussed. 

SUELLA BRAVERMAN: Enough is enough. Eco-zealots are not just causing mayhem – they are risking lives 

Enough is enough. Getting in the way of ambulances, fire engines, and cars carrying babies to hospital isn’t just illegal, it’s monstrously selfish. Just Stop Oil is the latest campaign to engage in such guerrilla tactics, but they are part of an ignoble tradition that includes Extinction Rebellion and Insulate Britain.

We have seen so-called protesters stick themselves to trains, glue themselves to roads, dig dangerously unstable tunnels, interfere with newspaper distribution, vandalise property and mess with the fuel supply.

On Friday Just Stop Oil activists threw soup over Van Gogh’s painting Sunflowers – one of the most celebrated works of art in the world. Who do they think they are?

This kind of behaviour is wrong no matter what the cause. There is widespread agreement that we need to protect our environment, but democracies reach decisions in a civilised manner.

Suella Braverman: 'Enough is enough. Getting in the way of ambulances, fire engines, and cars carrying babies to hospital isn¿t just illegal, it¿s monstrously selfish'

Suella Braverman: ‘Enough is enough. Getting in the way of ambulances, fire engines, and cars carrying babies to hospital isn’t just illegal, it’s monstrously selfish’

It’s hard to name a bigger sense of entitlement than the imagined right to bully everybody else.

I also expect the Metropolitan Police to do a better job of cracking down on these thugs and vandals – as does the public. If they think they’re above the law, they’re sorely mistaken.

We have given our police greater powers to tackle seriously disruptive protests through our Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act, but that Act was watered down by the House of Lords.

A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products

A sharply-dressed eco-warrior grimly pours a bottle of milk all over the floor of Fortnum & Mason in Piccadilly as they protest dairy products

The Government is taking further action because this cannot continue. The Public Order Bill, back in the Commons this week, will put the safety and interests of the law-abiding majority first.

It empowers the police to take more proactive action to prevent the kind of disruption we’ve seen in the past couple of weeks. Time spent on that is time that the police could otherwise spend pursuing burglars, murderers, and rapists.

Those who glue themselves to the road – forcing the police to remove them – are wildly irresponsible, idiotic, and risking lives.

Supporters of Animal Rebellion dump litres of milk onto a Marks and Spencers floor as they demand a 'plant-based future' from the government

Supporters of Animal Rebellion dump litres of milk onto a Marks and Spencers floor as they demand a ‘plant-based future’ from the government

It’s not just dangerous for those who do it, but also for the police removal teams.

So the Bill gives police the power to stop and search people for equipment used for such activities.

Just two police operations to deal with Extinction Rebellion activity in London cost £37 million, twice the annual budget of the violent crime taskforce. Meanwhile, HS2 estimates that protester action has cost them more than £146 million. What a staggering waste of money. We need serious penalties in order to deter public disorder.

Serious Disruption Prevention Orders will target selfish, repeat disruptors. There is a range of new offences and powers relating to the dangerous practice of tunnelling.

The Bill will strengthen the security of our transport networks, oil terminals, and printing presses by creating new criminal offences of interfering with key national infrastructure or access to essential goods and services.

A small number of people can bring gridlock – and misery.

New powers allowing Ministers to take out injunctions against the so-called protesters will scupper disruptive plans and prevent them from escalating into chaos.

This Government will not hesitate to act – and keep the law-abiding majority safe.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11320849/Eco-mob-blocks-Park-Lane-spray-paint-Aston-Martin-showroom-latest-London-protest.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Eco mob blocks Park Lane and spray paint Aston Martin showroom in latest London protest

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