Dartford MP Gareth Johnson praises police for handling of Extinction Rebellion protests
13:32, 17 October 2019
updated: 15:14, 17 October 2019
A Kent MP has called on Parliament to schedule a debate on the police of Extinction Rebellion protesters.
Dartford MP Gareth Johnson said he has witnessed first-hand the disruption the climate change activists have caused and criticised them for their displays at Canning Town tube station this morning.
Mr Johnson asked leader of the House of Commons, Jacob Rees-Mogg, for a debate to be scheduled so MPs could praise the work of the Metropolitan Police and Kent Police, who have helped in dealing with the protests, while also taking aim at Sadiq Khan.
He said: "This will give Members an opportunity of praising the Met Police and other forces such as Kent Police, who have leant their help too. It will also give members the opportunity of rebutting the shameful criticisms levelled at the police by the London Mayor.”
Mr Rees-Mogg replied: "I must confess, I agree with my honourable friend. It is really shameful that somebody who has a role with the police should be criticising the police when they have done everything possible to ensure that law and order is maintained when they have come under enormous pressure.
"I spoke to some of the officers who were around during the Extinction Rebellion and they were sometimes getting up at 2am and then on duty for 12 or 14 hour shifts to ensure that we were kept safe. We should be enormously grateful to the police service of this country.”
Speaking after the debate, Mr Johnson added: "I raised this issue in the House of Commons today, as I have witnessed first-hand the disruption that Extinction Rebellion has caused over the last few weeks.
"I support the right of people to protest but that does not give people the right to stop people from getting to work...” Gareth Johnson
"The Metropolitan Police, assisted by forces from across the country, have dealt with the protestors in a professional and measured way. I believe it is only right that MPs are given the opportunity to praise the actions of the police particularly given the recent criticism of their approach by Sadiq Khan.”
“The scenes from Canning Town station this morning show the increasing level of frustration that hard-working people have over the actions of these protestors.
"I support the right of people to protest and agree that we should be doing more to protect the environment but that does not give people the right to stop people from getting to work.”
More than 1,300 protestors have been arrested in London.
A group of people from Extinction Rebellion will be walking through Maidstone later with a coffin to symbolise a funeral.
