MARK Jenkinson MP has accused climate change protestors of “rank hypocrisy” after they drove to his constituency office in Maryport today (15th March) to speak with him – even though he was more than 300 miles away in Westminster.
The group from Just Stop Oil was advised that Mark was in Parliament, but the protestors continued to try to gain entry to the office; ringing the doorbell repeatedly; plastering posters on the windows; harassing staff members over the intercom; crowding the door; and filming from the street.
The group was here to protest the opening of a job-boosting coking coal mine in Whitehaven that will reduce the UK's carbon footprint, offsetting the need to import coking coal from overseas.
Mark Jenkinson MP said: “Had these Middle Class clowns rang ahead, I would have been able to spare them the trip and protect the planet from the harmful emissions they caused by driving here needlessly in their diesel cars.
“There were about 12 of them – and I have it on good authority that this mob did not come here on the bus, or by train, and they certainly didn’t come in a single car.
“They tried to get into the office and demanded to be seen. When they were told that no one was available, they plastered childish slogans on the window before driving back to Kendal, Cloud Cuckoo Land – or wherever. This is the sort of rank hypocrisy we have come to expect from these nutters.
“It is a typical case of ‘Do as I say, not as I do’. This organisation attracts the sort of imbeciles who glue themselves to roads, pour soup on priceless paintings, blockade businesses, and damage private property – all because they cannot accept someone’s right to have a different opinion.
“These enemies of democracy do not live in the real world – and they would prefer to spend their time harassing my staff who are trying to help people. These protestors should get a job.
“The claims in their press notice are also utter nonsense. I did not refuse to engage. I wasn’t here. I have previously had meetings with at least one of the protestors in which I explained the environmental benefits of the coking coal mine, but there are none so blind as will not see.
"As a Conservative MP, I have voted for some of the strongest environmental legislation in the world, including the landmark Environment Act.
"It is the case that I am in favour of the Cumbrian coal mine, to support UK steelmaking and reduce the UK's carbon footprint, mitigating the need to import coking coal from overseas and curbing our reliance on hostile foreign states.
The UK is a world leader when it comes to environmental protection and JSO would do well to focus their efforts on positive action rather than intimidating my staff."
A member of staff said: “Typically my colleagues and I are hard at work helping constituents and today was no exception.
“Unfortunately, these important duties were disrupted by these idiots ringing the doorbell over and over again.
“I promptly took down their propaganda from the window and asked them not to put any more posters on the window – advice which they ignored.”
