Extinction Rebellion activists dressed as bees swarm Lib Dem bus to demand action on climate change
An Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as a bee appeared to have glued himself to the windscreen of the Liberal Democrat battle bus this morning.
He was joined by other climate protesters in South London who also donned jackets with horizontal black and yellow stripes and fake wings to swarm the electric campaign vehicle.
Lib Dem activists closed ranks around the bus brandishing party placards as one man dressed as a bee moved between them while cheerily making buzzing sounds.
Extinction Rebellion said six activists had pulled off the stunt 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,” the group said.
“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.”
Pete McCall said he used super glue to fix himself to the bus and added: “All the parties are being targeted today.”
The protesters were targeting the bus ahead of Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson’s visit to a youth centre in Streatham.
She was seen talking to the bee protesters outside the bus.
Great to speak to @XRebellionUK bees today.
The climate emergency needs urgent action now. @LibDems are the only party with a credible & radical plan: a 10-year emergency programme to reduce greenhouse emissions & to generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030. https://t.co/BYIfSxLLtA— Jo Swinson (@joswinson) December 4, 2019
She also thanked the activists for cleaning up the electric coach afterwards.
The Lib Dems want to set an EU-wide target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050, but Extinction Rebellion wants the target to be set for 2025.
It is the first prominent stunt to take place during the election campaign by Extinction Rebellion, which organises attention-grabbing demonstrations to demand politicians do more to halt climate change.
The group organised a range of protests across London in October, with demonstrations taking place around the capital and more than 1,000 arrests taking place.
Later today, activists dressed as bees pretended to die in the Brexit Party’s Grimsby office.
Our bees are hosting a die in the Brexit Party office in Grimsby
"Of prospective parliamentary candidates standing for Nigel Farage’s party... the majority appear to reject mainstream science on the issue."https://t.co/AdhaOGRFv1#electionrebellion #TellTheTruth pic.twitter.com/wfiBm07PWP— Extinction Rebellion UK 🗳️🌍 (@XRebellionUK) December 4, 2019
