This was the scene at York Magistrates’ Court this morning (Tuesday).
Activists gathered outside ahead of the trial of four Greenpeace volunteers who are charged with criminal damage after a protest at Rishi Sunak’s home on 3 August.
That protest saw people climb onto the roof of the then Prime Minister’s mansion in Kirby Sigston, near Northallerton, and drape it in black.
They were demonstrating against the decision to expand North Sea oil and gas drilling. The incident took place with Mr Sunak and his family were away on holiday.
The four people on trial are:
- Michael Grant, 64, an Edinburgh resident originally from Aberdeen, formerly an officer in the paratroopers and a financial advisor.
- Amy Rugg-Easey, 33, a Newcastle resident originally from Milton Keynes, formerly a watchmaker and a boatbuilder.
- Mathieu Soete, 38, an Antwerp resident originally from Roeselare in Belgium, formerly worked in the EU Parliament, currently an energy campaigner.
- Alexandra Wilson, 32, a St Ives resident originally from Beverley in Yorkshire, trainee physiotherapist, formerly worked in catering.
Ahead of the trial, expected to last two days, the four defendants and their supporters posed in front of the magistrates’ court with a banner saying ‘No New Oil’.
Greenpeace climate campaigner Paul Morozzo said: “Less than a year ago, Rishi Sunak wanted to hand out hundreds of new fossil fuel licences in the middle of a climate crisis and against warnings from scientists.
“Today, we have a government elected on a mandate to stop new North Sea oil and gas licences and invest in renewables.
“We were right to warn Rishi Sunak about the consequences of a major oil and gas expansion – he made the wrong decision and it took millions of voters to set it right.
“Change is both necessary and possible, but it won’t happen on its own, and we won’t stand back when governments are failing.
“As the world faces ever more floods, fires and droughts we must hold politicians to account for their mistakes, that’s what peaceful protest is about.”