Rishi Sunak's country mansion invaded by activists

Yorkshire home becomes focus of group protesting against North Sea licences

Large black banners hung from Rishi Sunak's private country home on Thursday after four protesters climbed on to the roof of the UK Prime Minister’s Yorkshire base.

Greenpeace activists blanketed the house in Richmond in the fabric in protest at Mr Sunak’s announcement this week backing more North Sea oil and gas licences.

“We desperately need our Prime Minister to be a climate leader,” said Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner.

“Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling. He seems quite happy to hold a blowtorch to the planet if he can score a few political points by sowing division around climate in this country. This is cynical beyond belief.

“Sunak is even willing to peddle the old myth about new oil and gas helping ordinary people struggling with energy bills when he knows full well it’s not true. More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak’s own windfall tax,” Mr Evans said.

Mr Sunak and his family are away on holiday in California.

The Greenpeace activists ended their protest shortly after midday, following several hours on the roof.

The four campaigners descended around 1.15pm and were subsequently detained by the police.

The protest was described as a “major breach of security” and has sparked calls for an investigation.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, who is standing in for Mr Sunak during his holiday, had told the protesters to “stop the stupid stunts”.

Speaking on a visit to Able Seaton Port in Hartlepool, he said: “I think what most people would say is ‘can you stop the stupid stunts’, actually what they want to see from Government is action.”