Extinction Rebellion protesters have poured fake oil over the steps of Labour’s headquarters, calling on the party to take “urgent action” to cancel fossil fuel licences.
Activists climbed on to the London building’s entrance and set off smoke grenades, while another chained himself to a handrail.
Other protesters held up banners which said: “Labour, cut the ties to fossil fuels”.
The demonstration was at the party’s headquarters in Blackfriars Road, Southwark, southeast London, and followed an Extinction Rebellion (XR) protest in Parliament Square on Saturday involving an effigy of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dressed as Margaret Thatcher.
The protest group is demanding any future Labour government takes “urgent action” to cancel hundreds of new oil and gas exploration licences in the North Sea.
Fake oil was poured over the steps of the building
XR is also demanding a manifesto commitment from Labour to make the transition to renewable energy an “urgent priority”.
Commenting on the demonstration, an XR member said: “We demand an end to all new fossil fuel licences, including cancelling any awarded by this zombie Tory government before the next election.”
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Activists called on Labour to take ‘urgent action’ to cancel fossil fuel licences
Last month, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak defended a planned expansion of oil and gas drilling in the North Sea, claiming it is “entirely consistent” with the government’s goal to reach net zero by 2050.
Sir Keir has pledged to end North Sea exploration, saying the end of oil and gas extraction “has to happen eventually” and the “moment for decisive action is now”.
The Labour Party has been approached for comment about the XR protest.
