Odiham mum arrested as Insulate Britain activists glue themselves to road outside Parliament

Ruth Jarman, 59, a mother from Odiham, was among 26 others from around the country who stopped traffic outside the Houses of Parliament, in resistance against what they describe as the Government’s ‘kill’ policies. 

The blockade was timed to coincide with Liz Truss' arrival at the House of Commons for Prime Minister’s Questions.

Ms Jarman said: “All we are asking for is for our government to do what is right, fair and cost-effective - to insulate the UK’s housing stock, starting with social housing, as a response to the climate crisis and the cost of living crisis.

"It will save thousands of lives, create good jobs and reduce emissions. It was a no-brainer a year ago. It is utter madness not to do it now that we are in the middle of a cost of living and energy crisis.

"The government just needs to stop the infighting and get on with it.”

The Metropolitan Police said 19 protesters glued themselves to the road in Parliament Square in central London on Wednesday but have since been removed.

Insulate Britain protestors (Image: Insulate Britain)

Officers carried and dragged some of the activists from the road.

During the demonstration, protesters chanted: “We demand the British Government insulate all social housing by 2025.”

Arguments between the activists, from the environmental protest group Insulate Britain, and members of the public broke out after the protesters blocked several lanes of traffic.

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Protester Tracey Mallaghan was involved in a heated debate on the pavement with Kelly Glenister, 43, who was on her way to a hospital appointment.

Ms Glenister told the PA news agency: “You don’t get support by stopping people getting to work and getting to the hospital. All this does is alienate everyone and bring hatred.”

Ms Mallaghan said of the conversation: “I feel for her – we hate disrupting people.

“Frankly, it’s just selfish and sticking your head in the sand in this day and age to not be resisting a Government that’s killing us.”

Insulate Britain rose to notoriety last autumn for bringing the M25 around London to a standstill day after day for around 2 months.

Insulate Britain blocking the M25 (Image: Insulate Britain)

They are demanding that the Government take responsibility for and fully fund
the retrofitting and insulating of Britain’s homes, starting with social housing by 2025, and the entire UK housing stock by 2030.

A spokesperson from the campaign said “It has been 13 months since
Insulate Britain started our campaign and we have had no choice but to
return to the roads because the demand to Insulate Britain has not been
met”.

The roadblocks were part of the Just Stop Oil coalition’s month-long
campaign of nonviolent civil resistance happening daily across central
London.

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A paramedic from the campaign said: “As a paramedic, I see the devastating consequences of government failure firsthand. I attend to elderly people who have died in cold, uninsulated houses. Often living in just one room to try and save on heating costs. Scared to turn the fire on.

"Chronic hypothermia sets in and they die needlessly, in one of the wealthiest nations on earth. This is one of the most upsetting things about it.

"We should be able to support these elderly vulnerable people. They should be able to live in a warm, well-insulated home. The government and companies making obscene profits such as Shell and BP should be ashamed!”

A spokesperson for Insulate Britain said: “Insulate Britain is part of the Just Stop Oil coalition. Insulation is vital in lowering the UK’s demand for energy and carbon emissions and for improving energy security by reducing our reliance on imported fossil fuels.

"We urge citizens to take a stand by joining the Just Stop Oil coalition’s campaign of nonviolent civil resistance happening every day throughout October, meeting at 11am outside Downing street."

Since Insulate Britain started over a year ago, they say the government has imprisoned at least 100 ordinary people for peaceful civil resistance.

Demonstrators were given safety goggles while a chemical solution was applied by officers to detach the glue and remove them from the road.

The last protester, 80-year-old Rev Sue Parfitt, was removed shortly after 2pm and traffic began flowing freely past Parliament more than two hours after the activists first blocked the road.

Police kept one lane of traffic open throughout the demonstration, allowing drivers to continue towards Lambeth Bridge.