Greenpeace activists climb on roof of British premier's house to protest against fossil fuel expansion

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - A group of Greenpeace activists on Thursday took a stand against British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's support for a significant increase in North Sea oil and gas drilling by staging a protest at his residence.

The demonstrators scaled the roof of the Prime Minister's £2 million ($2.5 million) mansion in Yorkshire and covered it with a large "oily-black fabric", spanning approximately 200 square meters (2,150 square feet).

Two more activists on the ground unveiled a banner that bore the message 'Rishi Sunak - oil profits or our future?,' according to a picture shared by Greenpeace on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Sunak is not present at the residence as he departed for a family vacation in the US on Thursday and he is anticipated to be overseas for approximately 10 days.

Number 10 has declared that Sunak aims to maximize oil and gas extraction from the North Sea, revealing a policy of granting over 100 new drilling licenses.

This approach, described as "maxing out," has drawn criticism from environmental organizations, who argue that it will undermine the UK's climate obligations.