Government pursuing legal action against M25 protesters

Home secretary Priti Patel and Transport secretary Grant Shapps are reportedly seeking a court injunction to prevent environmental protesters from targeting major motorways.

Protesters from Extinction Rebellion offshoot group Insulate Britain have targeted the M25 in protest five times in just over a week. They are demanding that UK homes be retrofit with better insulation.

The group received sharp criticisms over the weekend after a mother was left paralysed from a stroke after the M25 gridlock caused by their roadblocks meant an ambulance could not reach her for 6 hours.

If the injunction is granted, individuals attempting to block the motorway could receive a prison sentence for contempt of court.