M25 protestors defy court injunction

Protesters from Extinction Rebellion offshoot group Insulate Britain have blocked part of the M25 for the seventh time in just over a fortnight.

Last week home secretary Priti Patel and Transport secretary Grant Shapps successfully applied for a court injunction to prevent protesters from targeting major motorways.

The injunction permits arresting individuals attempting to block major motorways, arresting and charging them for being in contempt of court.

Conservative MP Huw Merriman, chair of the transport committee made a statement via Twitter in response to the arrests, stating: “These new powers must be exercised every time; police charging all involved and the courts handing down custodial sentences. If not, Parliament needs to intervene with a specific offence and mandatory custodial sentences as a starting point.”

Former Brexit party leader Nigel Farage also criticised the perceived lack of action against the protests despite the injunction, writing: “I repeat, there is no point arresting these people unless you are going to charge them as well.”