Childish fanatics

The environmentalist group Greenpeace used to attract headlines for disruptive demonstrations now more associated with Just Stop Oil and Extinction Rebellion. But they were back in action yesterday at the Prime Minister’s constituency home in North Yorkshire. 

A group of activists climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak’s family house and draped it in a black cloth. They also unfurled a banner protesting at this week’s announcement that fresh licences for North Sea oil and gas exploration will be granted.

The most immediate concern is over the apparent lack of security. Even though the Prime Minister, his wife and two children are away on holiday, it is nonetheless worrying that such an invasion is possible. Is there not a permanent police presence? What was there to stop someone with a more sinister intent from gaining access to the property?

As for its childish stunt, how does Greenpeace imagine the country will be powered even when most of its electricity is generated by renewables? 

The fact remains that when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine, back-up power sources are needed and they are likely to be largely in the form of oil and gas. We can either import them or extract them here, but Greenpeace and other zealots seem unwilling to confront these realities.

This is a debate to be conducted properly through the existing democratic political process and not with incursions onto the personal property of participants, absent or not. The country has grown weary of these self-important fanatics who seem to have nothing better to do than play silly games.