CLIMATE change activists from Just Stop Oil held a protest outside the office of MP Mark Jenkinson.

Around ten Just Stop Oil supporters gathered outside Mr Jenkinson’s office in Maryport holding signs, some of which read: ‘The Future is Not in Coal or Tory Lies’, and ‘Don’t Listen to Jenkinson, Listen to the Science’. 

The group was protesting the opening of the coal mine in Whitehaven and is demanding that the UK government end all new oil, gas and coal projects licensed after 2021 and make a plan to stop oil use by 2030. 

 

Mr Jenkinson accused them of 'rank hypocrisy' after they drove to his constituency office to speak with him when he was more than 300 miles away in Westminster.

He said: "Had these 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 they 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.

"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 Workington MP also dismissed Just Stop Oil's press notice that he did not engage as 'utter nonsense'. 

He said: "I did not refuse to engage. I wasn’t here."

One of those taking action was Fiona Atkinson, 68, a retired teacher from Kendal.

She said: “As a grandma I feel for all the parents and grandparents in Cumbria who don’t want this mine on their doorstep because they know the last thing any of us need right now is more filthy fossil fuels. 

"Mark Jenkinson refuses to deal with the reality of climate breakdown even though it’s clearly happening everywhere including right here in Cumbria. A new coal mine is a crime against humanity and going all out for it makes him a climate criminal. As an MP he is required to act in the public interest – it’s time for him to realise that means no new coal.”