Police rushing to Rishi Sunak's home after protesters trigger major security breach
Rishi Sunak hit with major security breach as protesters climb onto roof of Prime Minister's home
PA
Eco-zealots have climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak's North Yorkshire home in protest of the Prime Minister's plan to expand oil and gas projects.
Greenpeace UK activists also draped Sunak's Richmond mansion with a large sheet of black cloth on Thursday morning.
Two people standing in front of the property held a banner which said: "Rishi Sunak - Oil profits or our future?"
Greenpeace added: “Climbers are draping Rishi Sunak’s mansion in an oil-black fabric to protest against new oil.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking to the media during his visit to Shell St Fergus Gas Plant in Peterhead, Aberdeenshire
PA
“He’s just said he’s going to continue handing out new oil licences and he’s on the cusp of approving Rosebank, the largest undeveloped oil field in the North Sea.
"This will be a climate disaster and will do nothing to lower bills, so we need your help to stop it.
“We’ve seen governments make countless u-turns when enough public pressure is put on them.
"Let’s force Rishi Sunak to pick a side: oil profits or our future?”
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Number 10 confirmed police officers are on the way to deal with the security breach.
A spokesperson said: "The police are on their way. We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like Putin for our energy.
"We are also investing in renewables and our approach supports 1000s of British jobs."
The Prime Minister was not at the property when eco-activists staged the protest.
Oil platforms stand amongst other rigs which have been left in the Cromarty Firth near Invergordon in the Highlands of Scotland
PA
Sunak jetted off to the United States on holiday yesterday with wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, 10.
The 43-year-old is expected to spend around 10 days on the West Coast and will visit Disneyland in California.
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden will stand in for Sunak while he is on holiday.
Sunak unveiled plans to grant over 100 new licences off the coast of Scotland and stressed the move was "entirely consistent" with the Government's net zero goals.
Rishi SunakPASpeaking in Aberdeenshire on Monday, the Prime Minister claimed using domestic oil and gas saved "two, three, four times the amount of carbon emissions" than "shipping it from halfway around the world".
He added: "It is really important for everyone to recognise that even in 2050 when we are at net zero, it is forecast that around a quarter of our energy needs will still come from oil and gas - that's why technologies like carbon capture and storage are important.
"But what is important then is we get that oil and gas in the best possible way and that means getting it here at home.
"[It is] better for our energy security, not being reliant on foreign dictators, better for jobs, for example 100,000 supported here in Scotland, but also better for the climate because if we are going to need it, far better to have it here at home."
Ed Miliband speaking at the launch of the Labour party's mission on cheaper green power
PA
Labour opposes the move and instead proposed to block all new domestic oil and gas drilling.
Shadow Environment Secretary Ed Miliband accused the Prime Minister of lurching towards "a culture war on climate" to make up for "13 years of failed Tory energy policy".
Tory MP Chris Skidmore also voiced disappointment about Sunak's plan.
The former Energy Minister, who is stepping down at the next election to focus on net zero, said: "This is the wrong decision at precisely the wrong time, when the rest of the world is experiencing record heatwaves."
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