Tory leadership announcement disrupted by Animal Rebellion

Several people blocked the road leading to the Queen Elizabeth II conference centre ahead of the announcement of the new Prime Minister.

Protesters from Animal Rebellion blocked the road near the Houses of Parliament as Tory MPs made their way to the centre to learn who their new leader would be. 

Ella Barrow, one of those taking action in London today, said: “This Tory leadership contest has been a grotesque display of precisely why we need complete political change and transformation towards a system that cares for all life.

“Regardless of who is announced as Prime Minister, we urgently need action on the climate and ecological emergencies.

“We need our Government to adopt the twin solution of supporting farmers in transitioning to a plant-based food system, with a mass-rewilding programme on the land no longer required for inefficient animal farming.

“This would draw down huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere, whilst restoring the beautiful British countryside we all desire.”

Animal Rebellion has stated that its supporters will continue to take nonviolent direct action until the British Government enters negotiations for its two demands – supporting farmers and fishing communities to move to a plant-based food system, and a programme of wildlife restoration. 

Alex Giles, another protester, said: “Whilst Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have spent the last few months playing a popularity contest, millions of people across the UK have struggled to put food on their tables and pay their energy bills.

“We do not need a people-pleaser, we need a leader with the courage and boldness to lead us out of the cost-of-living, climate, and ecological crises and into a plant-based future. We know that the UK could feed its population more than two times over with a plant-based food system.

“This would not only lower the cost of food but also directly combat climate breakdown by absorbing harmful greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere. Liz and Rishi, the world is watching what you do next.”

Animal Rebellion says it is a mass movement using nonviolent civil disobedience to call for a “just, sustainable plant-based food system”. 

Liz Truss was announced as the new Prime Minister.

Pictured top: Animal Rebellion protesters block the road ahead of the Tory leadership announcement (Picture: Animal Rebellion)