Greenpeace activists on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house
Top government environment adviser faces calls to resign his membership of Greenpeace after eco lunatics climb onto the roof of Rishi Sunak's house
- Natural England chairman Tony Juniper is on board of the Department for Environment
- Politicians called for him 'to distance himself' from 'unacceptable' eco activities
One of the government's top environment advisers faced calls to resign his membership of Greenpeace after eco protesters climbed onto the roof of Rishi Sunak's house.
Natural England chairman Tony Juniper sits on the board of the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs as a non-executive director, but is also a member of the environmental group.
Other politicians called for him to resign after four activists from the climate group were arrested after demonstrating for seven hours on the roof of the Prime Minister's £2million mansion in Richmond, North Yorkshire, yesterday morning.
The protesters arrived to the property at 6am but it took two hours before police were alerted just after 8am. It was not until 12.30pm that the group was coaxed down and loaded into the back of police vans.
They draped it in what they described as '200sq m (2,150sq ft) of oil-black fabric' in a protest at his backing for a major expansion of North Sea oil and gas drilling.
Natural England chairman Tony Juniper (pictured) sits on the board of the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs as a non-executive director, but is also a member of the environmental group
Four Greenpeace activists climbed on the roof of Rishi Sunak's home in North Yorkshire
At the same time, two further activists on the ground unfurled a banner featuring the words 'Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?' across the grass in front of the house.
The Prime Minister and his family are currently in the US for a summer holiday and were pictured soaking up the sun on Santa Monica Pier yesterday while activists scaled their house.
Earlier this week, Greenpeace member Mr Juniper appeared to criticise government moves to grant 100 new oil and gas licences in the North Sea by retweeting criticisms of the policy.
Politicians called last night for Mr Juniper 'to distance himself' from Greenpeace's 'simply unacceptable' activities, while he was also urged to consider quitting his membership of the group.
Tory MP Craig Mackinlay MP said: 'He should certainly consider his position as a member of Greenpeace.
'I would have thought it would be wise for Tony Juniper to distance himself from such activity. The occupation of the Prime Minister's house or indeed any house is simply unacceptable behaviour.
'I'm sure his membership doesn't imply his support for this activity, but it must seem to be unhelpful to his directorsip role at Defra'.
Mr Juniper, who is an expert on endangered parrots, previously served as executive director of Friends of the Earth.
The Prime Minister is currently on a 10-day family holiday with his wife Akshata Murty and their daughters Krishna, 12, and Anoushka, ten
Mr Juniper (right) is a friend of King Charles (centre) and has co-authored three books on environmental themes with the monarch
He is a friend of King Charles and has co-authored three books on environmental themes with the monarch.
The 62-year-old, who stood as a Green Party election candidate in 2010, has previously stepped down from memberships of organisations due to his official role.
He resigned his membership of the Greens when he was appointed to the chairmanship of Natural England.
He also stood down from his position of director of advocacy and campaigns at the World Wildlife Fund, and as president of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts.
Laughing Greenpeace activists are led away by police after they climbed on the roof of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house in Richmond, North Yorkshire, and covered it in black fabric
Greenpeace activist led away by police from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's house
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's constituency home in Richmond was targeted by Greenpeace
'Heads will roll' over Greenpeace stunt.
Amid furious buck-passing over eco-freak stunt, who's to blame for the security blunder at Rishi's house?
- Police chiefs are passing the buck back and forth over the security breach at Prime Minister's home
Knives are out among police chiefs tasked with safeguarding the Prime Minister after Greenpeace activists climbed onto the roof of his constituency home in a major security gaffe.
North Yorkshire Police, the Met and the Home Office are accused of 'utter incompetence' for their handling of the protestors' seven-hour publicity stunt - which saw a two-hour wait after the first phone call at 6am before officers were dispatched to the scene in Richmond.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith called for an inquiry into how the 'pathetic stunt' was allowed to compromise the security of the Prime Minister's home
Former home secretary Priti Patel urged her successor Suella Braverman to launch a review immediately
Greenpeace activist laughing as she is led away by police from the house. The eco-morons have already been released on bail.
Rishi Sunak was spotted taking his wife and two daughters to Santa Monica Pier in California on Thursday
The family of four were seen playing arcade games on the world-famous pier, appearing to put any worries of life back home behind them
Before they jetted across the pond a day earlier, Mr Sunak said it would be a 'really special' trip after a few years without a 'proper' family summer holiday
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