Just Stop Oil supporters have targeted the offices of Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson in Maryport, Cumbria. Beginning at 7:35am today, four individuals plastered his officers with posters that read: [1]
“Mark Jenkinson is telling giant porkies about coal & jobs. He just wants to please his Tory billionaire chums. The rich will get richer, the jobs won’t last & no-one needs the coal…”
Cumbrians have previously staged disruptive action at Mark Jenkinson’s offices for his support of the Cumbrian Coal mine which received government approval in 2022. The government’s own climate adviser Lord Deben has described the project as “indefensible” warning that its approval would damage the UK’s leadership on the climate crisis, and “create another example of Britain saying one thing and doing another”.[2] [3]
A group of around five more Just Stop Oil supporters joined the action takers outside the office, putting up ‘Crime Scene’ tape and holding up signs saying ‘PEOPLE vs COAL’.
Mark Jenkinson arrived at 8:15am and began remonstrating with the action takers. Police officers from Cumbria Constabulary arrived on the scene shortly afterwards. The situation is still unfolding.
One of those taking action today is Alison Parker, aged 41, is a constituent of Jenkinson’s from Aspatria. She said:
“I am sick of Mark Jenkinson telling constituents like me that the coal mine is needed by the steel industry, and that it will be carbon neutral. We deserve to be told the truth. I’m really worried about the impact of the coal mine on the climate and how it will encourage other countries to build more mines too.”
The action takers presented an open letter to Mark Jenkinson’s staff and police officers that details Mark Jenkinson’s actions that breach Article 30.2(b) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, calling for his arrest. It also cites “a group of Swiss women just won a landmark case against their government’s climate policies. This week, children in South Korea are in court accusing their government of failing to protect them.”
Attached to the letter was a detailed evidence dossier of Mark Jenkinsons’ actions which have lead to the supporters declaring:
“In his climate denial, support for the ongoing use of fossil fuels and vocal support for the Cumbrian coalmine, Jenkinson is neither fulfilling his duty to his constituents, nor protecting local communities. Given evidence of climate breakdown all over the world, anyone who supports fossil fuel projects is complicit in crimes against humanity.”
Another of those taking action today is Colin Benton, a 64 year old software engineer from Maryport. He said:
“I’m from Maryport, and Mark Jenkinson is harming our town. He works for himself first, coal money second, and the people come last. Why won’t he protect our community? We’re sick of being lied to, we’re sick of crumbling public services, and we’re sick of corrupt leaders.”
As the world passes tipping points that threaten the breakdown of ordered civilization, our politicians, captured by the interests of oil lobbyists and big business, are failing to protect our communities. Until we stop Tory oil, supporters of Just Stop Oil will continue taking proportionate action to demand necessary change. Sign up for action at juststopoil.org.
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is a coalition of groups working together to demand that the government immediately halt all future licensing and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK. Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-56023895
[3] https://juststopoil.org/2024/03/15/just-stop-oil-supporters-disrupt-climate-criminal-mp/
