On a visit to Darlington, in north-east England, Rishi Sunak said new powers would help ensure firms repair roads properly after carrying out works, through more fines and inspections.
Maybe he didn’t know but just down the road at his Richmond constituency home Greenpeace were giving his private leisure complex a visit.
Activists wearing trunks, flip-flops and caps have lined up outside Rishi Sunak’s £2 million Grade-II listed mansion to protest against the UK’s outdated national grid.
Greenpeace tweeted the video and wrote: “Rishi Sunak spent £400,000 upgrading his local electricity grid so he can heat his new PRIVATE POOL. So we decided to pay him a visit and throw a pool party at his mansion in North Yorkshire.”
They then clarified with: “Quick clarification: The PM’s swanky new pool = £400,000. + Tens of thousands £££ to upgrade the local grid to heat it. All while local public pools face closure because of skyrocketing energy bills.”
Pool closures
An estimated 350 public swimming pools have been forced to shut or reduce opening hours amid surging energy bills, MPs were informed earlier this month.
Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said: ‘We’re queuing up for the prime minister’s heated pool because a better electricity grid should be a public good, not the private luxury of millionaires.
‘While Sunak will enjoy doing lengths in his warm pool, the rest of us are stuck with an outdated power network, not fit for purpose, that’s blocking the roll-out of more cheap and clean renewables.
‘Securing green energy for all should be the focus of the government this week.
‘Instead, they’re approving new oil drilling and giving tax breaks to fossil fuel giants, proving they really are out of their depth when it comes to tackling the climate and energy crisis.
‘Sunak must upgrade our outdated grid and clear away other barriers to renewables so we can reap the full benefits of cheap energy from solar and wind, bringing down bills and carbon emissions alike. If he refuses, he leaves us stranded without a raft.’
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Related: Sunak: Small holes & small boats obsession will leave party in ground
