In the latest episode of what is by now practically a political sketch-show, Boris Johnson has lashed out at Extinction Rebellion protesters following the group’s first day of planned non-violent civil disobedience. The British Prime Minister and ex-Daily Telegraph journalist basically wrote the story himself, branding the climate protesters “uncooperative crusties” clogging the capital’s streets with their “heaving hemp-smelling bivouacs”. Oh, and he did so during a speech at a Margaret Thatcher book launch on Whitehall. You really couldn’t make this up.
With protestors staking out various points around Westminster, including Trafalgar Square, the Prime Minister alleged that his security team discouraged him from attending the event as “there was some risk that [he] would be egged.” Ever stoic, Boris showed up anyway, asking himself ‘What would Margaret Thatcher do?’ He then went on to praise Thatcher for her eco-credentials (??) citing her as a “true feminist, green and revolutionary who changed the world for the better.” Right… This is, of course, to be taken with a massive fucking handful of salt from the man who is hellbent on driving the country over the White Cliffs of Dover come October 31st.
Meanwhile, on the XR front, shutdowns of London’s landmarks and key infrastructural points are well underway. Particularly notable protest sites so far have included Westminster Bridge and Smithfield, the city’s main meat market. Not all has gone to plan though: in a pre-emptive strike on Saturday, police stormed a warehouse held by the organisation in Kennington, confiscating equipment intended for use by the protesters over their planned fortnight of peaceful protests, such as portaloos, food and hot water bottles. Numerous arrests were also made on suspicion of conspiracy to cause a public nuisance.
Elsewhere in satirical political gestures by world leaders, Donald Trump has referred to his “great and unmatched wisdom” in his dealings with Turkey’s quasi-dictator Recep Tayyip Erdogan over the fight against ISIS. Stay tuned for next week’s episode!
