‘INDULGENT’ Extinction Rebellion savaged for ‘detrimental’ agenda after Heathrow THREAT
Speaking to Express.co.uk, Mr Bailey said warned the group’s tactics would alienate Londoners from the cause and was “detrimental” to the environment movement. Mr Bailey, who will run for the position of London mayor in 2020, explained: “The environmental movement worldwide is a very important and a very salient movement. It’s something I would support.
“But the way in which it happened in London – many Londoners felt quite aggrieved about it because they support it, they believe in it and they wish that people hadn’t been so self-indulgent and had a much better conversation about it.
“We’re spending lots of money in London around the environment.
“I worry that events like that set them back.
“I’ve spoken to many people on a daily basis who lost work from it – lots of elderly and disabled people who couldn’t move around.
“So there’s another side to the event and we need to separate out the two things.”
Mr Bailey continued: “The way in which the Extinction agenda was carried out, I think, was detrimental to London and many people believe that.
“I think if I were Mayor, they could approach me with some tactics they wanted to use – some environmental measures they wanted to take. I’m always up for a conversation.
“But what they did was basically attack London life which was detrimental to a lot of poor people who make money on a day-to-day basis.
“They can’t afford to take four or five days out of work.
“To bring London to a standstill for that many days was, quite frankly, a little bit out of order.”
He added: “And, of course, they put other parts of London at risk.
“Other parts of London have local crime issues – huge burglary issues.
“And all of their spare policeman were over here helping make a point that could be made in a much better way.”
London Heathrow could be brought to a standstill this month after Extinction Rebellion threatened to close it down as part of a campaign against plans for a third runway.
The environmentalist group confirmed it was considering a plan to use drones to bring Europe’s busiest airport to a standstill.
A statement read: “On June 18, we plan to carry out nonviolent direct action to ensure Heathrow Authorities close the airport for the day, to create a ‘pause’ in recognition of the genocidal impact of high carbon activities, such as flying, upon the natural world,” before noting: “This is not about targeting the public, but holding the Government to their duty to take leadership on the climate and ecological emergency.”
Last December saw similar delays at Gatwick after drones were spotted near the perimeter, with 140,000 passengers affected and 1,000 diverted/cancelled over a three day period.
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