‘Pool party at Rishi’s’: Greenpeace activists clad in swimming trunks and flip flops queue outside PM’s Yorkshire home and swimming pool in protest against ‘outdated national grid’
- Greenpeace activists demonstrated outside of the PM’s home in North Yorkshire
- Comes ahead of the Government’s ‘Energy Security Day’, which is tomorrow
Greenpeace activists clad in swimming trunks and flip flops rocked up to Rishi Sunak’s home and swimming pool in Yorkshire today as they protested the ‘outdated National Grid’.
The eco-warriors were seen demonstrating outside the £2million mansion in Richmond.
Earlier this month, the Prime Minister came under fire after it emerged his new indoor swimming pool uses so much energy that his listed manor house’s electricity supply had to be upgraded. Mr Sunak was given permission for the nearly 40ft pool in 2021.
Greenpeace activists wearing trunks, flip flops and caps line up outside Rishi Sunak’s Grade-II listed manor house in Richmond, Yorkshire
Earlier this month, the Premier came under fire after it emerged his new indoor swimming pool uses so much energy that his listed manor house’s electricity supply had to be upgraded
The protest comes ahead of the Government’s ‘Energy Security Day’ tomorrow
Sources have stressed that the Prime Minister received no special treatment in having the work done at his constituency home in North Yorkshire, and is believed to have footed the bill himself.
Earlier this month it emerged that a ‘substantial’ amount of electrical gear supplying the complex – including a gym and tennis court – was installed due to energy needs.
A new connection to the National Grid had to be run across open fields, the Guardian reported.
It said the work was estimated to have cost tens of thousands of pounds – in addition to the ongoing cost of energy consumption for the pool, put at £13,000 a year.
There is no suggestion the PM used his status to receive preferential treatment from Northern Powergrid.
The protest comes ahead of the Government’s ‘Energy Security Day’ tomorrow.
Environmental analysts and business leaders are expecting a host of climate and energy policies on Thursday that would spur UK investment in green technology and decarbonisation.
Sources stressed that the Prime Minister received no special treatment in having the work done at his £1.5million constituency home in North Yorkshire
Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said: ‘We’re queuing up for the Prime Minister’s heated pool because a better electricity grid should be a public good, not the private luxury of millionaires.
‘While Sunak will enjoy doing lengths in his warm pool, the rest of us are stuck with an outdated power network, not fit for purpose, that’s blocking the roll-out of more cheap and clean renewables.
‘Securing green energy for all should be the focus of the Government this week. Instead, they’re approving new oil drilling and giving tax breaks to fossil fuel giants, proving they really are out of their depth when it comes to tackling the climate and energy crisis.
‘Sunak must upgrade our outdated grid and clear away other barriers to renewables so we can reap the full benefits of cheap energy from solar and wind, bringing down bills and carbon emissions alike. If he refuses, he leaves us stranded without a raft.’
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