Extinction Rebellion activists dressed as bees glue themselves to Lib Dem electric bus

Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as bees glue themselves to the Lib Dems battle bus during a visit to Knights Youth Centre in London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Wire. - Credit: PA

Activists from the climate change awareness group Extinction Rebellion have targeted the Liberal Democrats electric campaign bus in their latest demonstration in Streatham.

Extinction Rebellion protesters dressed as bees glue themselves to the Lib Dems battle bus during a visit to Knights Youth Centre in London. Photograph: Aaron Chown/PA Wire. – Credit: PA

Adam Payne, a senior political reporter for Business Insider, first reported the incident when he tweeted: “Early morning drama in Streatham where some people dressed as bees are demonstrating by sticking themselves to Jo Swinson’s bus”.

Nick Eardley, BBC political correspondent, explained: “Lib Dem visit in London ambushed by Extinction Rebellion activists. A man dressed as a bee has glued himself to their bus.”

Lib Dem visit in London ambushed by Extinction Rebellion activists. A man dressed as a bee has glued himself to their bus pic.twitter.com/afQS6T1V03
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) December 4, 2019

Eardley added: “Extinction Rebellion say they are targeting all parties” – before pointing out: “The bus is electric”.

Police cordoned off the area, attempting to convince the protestors to detach themselves from the Lib Dem bus, and meanwhile, Jo Swinson is attempting to negotiate with the bees.

Extinction Rebellion say they are targeting all parties pic.twitter.com/3cDJyNRMe5
— Nick Eardley (@nickeardleybbc) December 4, 2019

“Thank you very much for coming and expressing,” she is heard saying.

“Your election campaign has been a little bit patronising,” one of the protestors replies.

Swinson is talking to the bees! pic.twitter.com/B9VeZQx7nB
— Adam Payne (@adampayne26) December 4, 2019

“We’re enacting rebellion against the government which has failed to act on climate change and the climate breakdown despite basic evidence for thirty years.”

The bee continues: “Politicians and political parties make promises in elections, and don’t follow up on them afterwards.

“We’re not campaigning, we’re in active rebellion against the government.”

Swinson replied: “Absolutely. I think it is a really important cause.”

The party’s shadow chancellor Ed Davey said he was pleased to see the campaign was creating “a buzz” around tackling the climate emergency.

“Extinction Rebellion have played an important role, alongside the school climate strikes, in putting this crucial issue front and centre of this election.

“We know there is no planet B. The UK needs a government that will put protecting our planet at the heart of its ambitions.

“The Liberal Democrats have bold plans to achieve net-zero by 2045. Under a Liberal Democrat government we will generate 80% of our electricity from renewables by 2030, insulate every home, ensure every car sold is electric and plant 60 million trees a year.

“Only the Liberal Democrats have a plan to build a brighter future for our planet.”