Insulate Britain activist jailed for blocking M25 has declared hunger strike

AN INSULATE Britain activist jailed for blocking the M25 has declared a hunger strike after nine members of the group received sentences of between two and six months.

Announcing her intention to go on hunger strike with immediate effect, Emma Smart, 44, said she believed her actions were “morally right” even if they were deemed illegal.

Nine supporters of the group were jailed at the High Court in London today after they admitted to breaching an injunction by blocking the busy motorway during rush hour on October 8.

Some of the group glued themselves to each other and two glued themselves to the road, causing disruption for over an hour and a half on the busy motorway.

Ana Heyatawin, 58, and Louis McKechnie, 20, were jailed for three months, while Ms Smart, Ben Buse, 36, Roman Paluch-Machnik, 28, Oliver Rock, 41, Tim Speers, 36, and James Thomas, 47, received four-month sentences.

Ben Taylor, 37, was given a longer sentence of six months “to deter [him] from committing further breaches” after his submissions to the court on Tuesday were described by Dame Victoria Sharp as “inflammatory” and a “call to arms.”

Seven of the nine arrested are also members of Extinction Rebellion.

Today the climate group accused the government of preferring to “lock up pensioners than insulate homes.”

The group sparked anger among motorists after launching dozens of road blocks as part of its campaign of civil disobedience to pressure the government to insulate Britain’s homes, starting with those of the poorest.

National Highways executive director of operations Duncan Smith welcomed the outcome, adding: “We respect people’s right to protest but do not condone the actions of anyone who puts their lives, and the lives of road users, at risk.”