6 December 2021, 11am –
Today Emma Smart’s hunger strike at HMP Bronzefield continues into its twentieth day as the Insulate Britain supporter vows to continue until the government agrees to take action on fuel poverty and climate by insulating Britain’s leaky homes. She has been joined on hunger strike by Dr Ben Buse who has now refused food for twelve days at HMP Thameside.
On 29th November Emma, 44 from Weymouth Dorset was moved to the hospital wing at HMP Bronzefield as staff became concerned about her health.
Speaking from prison today Emma, said:
“As we approach the coldest days we have had this year I feel resolute that what I am doing is right. How long can this cowardly government continue to betray its people by delaying the action needed to ensure people in Britain do not have to make the choice whether to eat or heat each winter. Every year at least 8,500 people die in frozen homes, with reports that this year the death toll from fuel poverty will be even greater. In the sixth richest country in the world this is a disgrace.”
Dr Ben Buse, 36, a university researcher from Bristol, began an indefinite hunger strike on 25th November. He is joining Emma in asking the government to take the first meaningful step to reduce carbon emissions by up to 20% by insulating the UK’s housing stock, starting with social housing by 2025.
Ben, who was sentenced on 17th November to four months in prison along with eight other Insulate Britain supporters currently serving sentences of between three and six months, has received a new summons. He is due to appear at the High Court in London on 14th December along with eight new defendants on a further charge of contempt of court for breaking the government’s injunctions. [1] [2]
Referring to the latest committal hearing, Ben said:
“The continued prosecution by the government of ordinary people who have broken these injunctions after I was imprisoned for speaking up for the 8,500 who will die annually from cold homes is cowardly. When will Boris do the right thing by stopping these prosecutions and start insulating Britain’s homes?’
“The authority of the court is fatally undermined by fines and prison sentences, suspended or otherwise, for people peacefully acting to end fuel poverty and address climate breakdown which threatens everything we hold dear. The next three to four years will determine the future of humanity and our government are either too scared or too stupid to sort this out.”
ENDS
Press contact: 07737 457105
Email: insulatebritainpress@protonmail.com
High quality photos of the 9 supporters of Insulate Britain in prison here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Y3p3AH9-ul7aHV6kAUHYiwtRIZkG2iDS
High quality photos and video footage available here: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Kucq-NfhnZLGJWwLx1HX03cWR7M9Y2-m
Website: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insulatebritain
Twitter: https://twitter.com/insulatelove
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8N5mAeeCLbD-AFUqtPaF0g
Notes to Editors
[1] The first group of nine Insulate Britain protestors sentenced to prison on 17th November were: Dr Ben Buse 36, Ana Heyatawin 58, Louis McKenchnie 20, Roman Paluch 28, Oliver Roc 41, Emma Smart 44, Tim Speers 36, James Thomas 47, Ben Taylor 27. The 2 women are being held at HMP Bronzefield, Britain’s only dedicated site for women, whilst 6 men are at HMP Thameside, with one being at HMP Wandsworth, where the Paralympian James Brown is currently serving a one year sentence for Public Nuisance relating to a social justice act of resistance at City Airport.
[2] On 14th December Dr Ben Buse, 36, is summoned to return to the High Court for a second committal hearing relating to the Highways England injunction. Ben Buse is appearing alongside Ruth Jarman 58, Biff Whipster 54, Dr. Diana Warner 62, Paul Sheeky 46, Richard Ramsden 75, Stephen Gower 54, Steven Pritchard 58 and the Rev Sue Parfitt 79.
[3] About Insulate Britain
Insulate Britain is a new campaign group that is calling on the UK government to put in place policy and funding for a national home insulation programme starting with all social housing.
We demand the Prime Minister and the government to #getonwiththejob, face up to their responsibility and lead our country through the climate crisis.
We are ordinary British citizens with simple and achievable demands to #INSULATEBRITAIN
The UK government must immediately promise to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain.
We demand a national home insulation strategy that gives British people the justice they deserve: a future for our loved ones, lower energy bills and safer living conditions.
We are scared: our livelihoods are at risk and the futures of our children are uncertain
The Climate Crisis is a threat to all: we demand the government to act now.
Our Demands
- That the UK government immediately promises to fully fund and take responsibility for the insulation of all social housing in Britain by 2025;
- That the UK government immediately promises to produce within four months a legally binding national plan to fully fund and take responsibility for the full low-energy and low-carbon whole-house retrofit , with no externalised costs, of all homes in Britain by 2030 as part of a just transition to full decarbonisation of all parts of society and the economy.
Further information about Insulate Britain and our demands here: https://www.insulatebritain.com/
Technical Report on home energy efficiency here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jt5FI-kinEXoqZtPDrCvnAVQ2EFn8Aea/view
Insulate Britain ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with ‘blue lights’ on.