A MEMBER of Extinction Rebellion has glued himself to the Liberal Democrats’ election campaign bus.
The man appeared to have his palm stuck to the windscreen of the bus, and was accompanied by activists dressed up as bees. The incident took place at the Knights youth centre in Streatham, south London.
One of the activists addressed LibDem leader Jo Swinson, he said: “Political parties have promised things in elections and they’ve bailed afterwards so were not campaigning, we’re an active rebellion against the government.”
A member of climate change activist group Extinction Rebellion has glued himself to the Liberal Democrats' election campaign bus in London pic.twitter.com/FboDPyyiNm
— PA Media (@PA) December 4, 2019
Swinson responded: “Sure, It’s fine, I absolutely ... and you know, I have been to the Extinction Rebellion protests myself earlier this year.”
Swinson was also confronted about false commitments in previous elections. Another activist said: “Political parties have never ever met any of their targets. They’re not doing it now and why should we believe that you’re going to do it in the future.
“This is just not ambitious enough. We need to go beyond what is politically possible in order to actually give the children in this youth centre an actual future.”
The LibDem leader told reporters: "There is clearly a little bit of an irony in gluing yourself to an electric bus.
"A little bit like when the DLR was targeted.
"Obviously, again, a fairly environmentally friendly form of transport.
"But, I recognise the general point.
"And I welcome that the climate emergency is a really important issue in this election."
Protester Pete McCall, who said he used super glue to attach himself to the bus, said: "All the parties are being targeted today."
McCall was among a number of protesters dressed as bees who targeted the Lib Dem bus as Swinson visited the Knights Youth Centre in Streatham.
Extinction Rebellion said six of its activists had targeted the LibDem battle bus to demand that "climate and ecological emergency is top of the agenda this election"
"The protest, going by the name Bee-yond Politics, is being carried out to remind politicians of the irreplaceable biodiversity loss that is a direct result of their poor, irresponsible policy-making.
"Activists wanted to plant the plight of bees and other pollinators fully in the minds of the next prime minister and to remind them that they hold the future of life in their hands.
"Our bee population is being threatened by extreme weather and habitat destruction, bringing with it crop instability and food vulnerability."
A man was taken away from the scene of the protest by police. A police officer said the man was arrested for criminal damage.
Extinction Rebellion say they are targeting all parties pic.twitter.com/3cDJyNRMe5
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) December 4, 2019
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