'You should be ashamed!' Priti Patel heckled as MP mobbed by furious eco-zealots

'You should be ashamed!' Priti Patel heckled as MP mobbed by furious eco-zealots
Millie Cooke

By Millie Cooke


Published: 24/01/2024

- 14:31

The incident occurred as the former Home Secretary arrived at an event on policing by the Policy Exchange think tank

Priti Patel was heckled by a group of eco-protesters as she arrived at an event in London today.

One protester said the former Home Secretary "should be ashamed" of herself.



The incident occurred as Patel arrived to speak at an event on policing by the Policy Exchange think tank.

One protester shouted: "What are you going to do to protect the people of this country against the climate crisis when there is literally climate breakdown happening?

WATCH: Just Stop Oil protesters march from Trafalgar Square

"Indefensible, you should be ashamed of yourself and ashamed of the Conservative Government.

"People can't afford to heat their homes or feed their families and you're handing out new oil and gas licences to fill the pockets of yourselves and the oil and the gas giants.

"I'm not going to calm down when people are dying across the world right now, and she shouldn't either.

"As a representative of the people of this company, disgraceful."

This comes just days after the House of Commons voted to pass new legislation granting annual oil and gas licensing rounds.

The Government says the plans will help strengthen the UK's energy security.

WATCH: Priti Patel heckled by eco-protester

It argues the country will still need to use some fossil fuels even after it reaches net zero, and that it is better for this to be produced domestically than imported.

But former Conservative cabinet minister Sir Alok Sharma warned that the legislation would "reinforce the unfortunate perception about the UK rowing back from climate action".

He told the Commons: "We have seen the impacts of the changing climate around us daily, 2023 was the hottest year on record globally, in recent weeks many people have faced flooding again in our country including in my own constituency, we really shouldn't need anymore wake-up calls to put aside the distractions and act with the urgency the situation demands."

Sharma added: "I think it's acknowledged that this Bill would not necessarily lower domestic energy bills in the UK, that price for oil and gas as a commodity is set internationally.

"I think the best way to enhance are energy security and to ultimately bring down bills is for the Government to continue to deliver on its ambitious plans for expanding homegrown clean energy."

You may like