Four Greenpeace activists made a bold statement by climbing onto the roof of Rishi Sunak's £2 million mansion in Richmond, North Yorkshire, to protest his support for expanding North Sea oil

and gas drilling. They covered the house with 200 sq m (2,150 sq ft) of "oily-black fabric," symbolizing their opposition to the plans.

At the same time, two activists on the ground unfurled a banner reading "Rishi Sunak - Oil Profits or Our Future?" in front of the property. The demonstration follows Sunak's recent vow to maximize opportunities in the North Sea and support the oil and gas industry, including granting 100 new licenses for extraction.

Greenpeace UK's climate campaigner, Philip Evans, criticized Sunak's stance, calling on him to be a climate leader rather than a climate "arsonist." The protestors argued that expanding oil and gas drilling would benefit oil giants, not ordinary people struggling with energy bills, and would be detrimental to the climate.

Sunak, who is away on a family holiday in the US, is expected to spend around ten days on the West Coast. His trip coincides with the controversy over his decision to back the North Sea drilling expansion. Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps recently met with industry leaders to discuss the government's investment in home-grown energy sources, including renewables, nuclear power, and North Sea oil and gas.

Greenpeace's demonstration highlights the ongoing debate over the UK's commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions while continuing to support the oil and gas industry. Photo by OsvaldoGago, Wikimedia commons.