Insulate Britain protesters ‘glued to floor’ block M56 near Manchester Airport
Andy Burnham was quick to tweet his disapproval, stating he "can't see how this type of protest does anything other than alienate people from the climate cause".
Climate change protesters from Insulate Britain have blocked the M56 near Manchester Airport, it is being reported.
It appears that a group has blocked the carriageway near Junction 6 of the motorway this morning and is now holding Insulate Britain banners up.
Images from the scene show a group of protesters sitting on the floor near a collection of traffic lights, and some reports are suggesting that protesters have attempted to glue themselves to the floor.
It also seems that a number of police officers appear to be at the scene already.
Image: Insulate Britain
Greater Manchester Police has released a statement: “We’re currently responding to a protest on Wilmslow Road (A538) close to Manchester Airport.
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“We’re working at the scene to minimise disruption and we’ll provide updates in due course.
“Delays are expected and we ask people travelling to avoid the area if possible.”
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Manchester Airport has also released a statement, which says: “We are aware of protestors gathered on land close to Manchester Airport, which is being handled by the Greater Manchester Police.
“There is no impact on our operations but those planning to travel to the airport should take account of this ahead of their journey.
“Anyone with further enquiries should contact the police or Highways England directly.”
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Andy Burnham was quick to tweet his disapproval, stating he “can’t see how this type of protest does anything other than alienate people from the climate cause” – however, he doesn’t offer any suggestions for the type of protest he might deem to be more effective.
I can’t see how this type of protest does anything other than alienate people from the climate cause.
The group of climate change protestors appears to have headed north to coincide with the COP26 talks currently taking place in Glasgow.
This week, dozens of world leaders have already faced calls of hypocrisy for taking private jets to Glasgow whilst telling the world to cut its carbon footprint.
Protests are also taking place today in Birmingham and across Britain, reports The National Scot – with a reverend from Bristol having been arrested by police for taking part in the peaceful acts of disruption and disobedience.
The group is campaining for the UK government to introduce new legislation and funding for better home insulation, which they argue would significantly help in the fight against climate change.
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Their key demands are that the government insulate all social housing in the UK by 2025 and retrofit all homes with insulation by 2030.
An offshoot of climate change protest group Extinction Rebellion, their website states: “WE demand the Prime Minister and the government to #getonwiththejob, face up to their responsibility and lead our country through the climate crisis.”
Featured Image – Insulate Britain
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‘Powerful’ new BBC documentary to tell the stories of the Southport victims’ families
Emily Sergeant
The BBC is set to tell the stories of the Southport attack victims’ families in a powerful new documentary airing next month.
The Southport attack was a tragedy that hit the nation like no other last summer, and the new hour-long documentary, titled Our Girls: The Southport Families, follows the parents of three young girls – nine-year-old Alice da Silva Aguiar, six-year-old Bebe King, and seven-year-old Elsie Dot Stancombe – who tragically lost their lives in the process.
Last summer, the three little girls had excitedly gone to a Taylor Swift-themed dance class – but tragically, they never came home.
Over the last nine months, a small team from the BBC followed the families’ journey through unimaginable grief and the beginnings of hope, and now their deeply personal interviews are to be shown alongside family footage shared for the first time.
Producers say the ‘moving’ documentary will show the joy the girls brought, and the legacies the parents are now building in their memory.
Set to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in early December, viewers will get to watch as the parents plan to create lasting legacies in their daughters’ names – Alice’s Wonderdance, Bebe’s Hive, and Elsie’s Story.
It will also show the parents’ fundraising efforts to build a playground at the school attended by two of the girls, which they hope will become a space for ‘joy, remembrance, and community’.
“This inspirational film is a heartfelt tribute to Alice, Bebe and Elsie, told through the voices of those who knew and loved them most,” explained Richard Frediani, who is the Executive Editor at BBC Breakfast and BBC News.
“It is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the strength of three families united in grief and now driven by purpose to ensure their names are never forgotten.”
Sarah Campbell, who is a BBC News correspondent, added: “Our hope is that people will take from their story that it is possible to find light and humanity in the darkest of times.”
Our Girls: The Southport Families will air on BBC One on Tuesday 9 December at 8pm, and will later be available on iPlayer.
Featured Image – Merseyside Police
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NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter as ‘damaging’ strikes begin
Emily Sergeant
The NHS has claimed it’s currently the ‘busiest it has ever been’ as we head into the winter.
While it has been revealed that the health service’s waiting list is 230,000 lower than this time last summer, and down 15,845 compared to the previous month, figures released this week show that the NHS is ‘approaching its limit’ as we head into winter – with A&E, ambulances, and more all facing record demand.
As the colder months edge closer, and a likely spike in flu cases is expected in the coming weeks, the NHS says it’s the ‘busiest it has ever been’.
It also comes during what officials are describing as ‘damaging’ industrial action.
From Friday and into next week, some NHS services will be affected due to strike action. Please continue to come forward for NHS care.
If you need urgent medical help, use 111, and if it is a serious or life-threatening emergency, please call 999. pic.twitter.com/ym87CQ3CRR
Last month, both A&E attendances and ambulance incidents were at a record high for October, with A&E attendances at 37,000 higher than October 2024, equating to over 1,200 more attendances per day this October.
Ambulance incidents also jumped nearly 50,000 compared with October last year (806,441), the NHS has confirmed.
“It is fantastic news that the health service managed to get the waiting list down in September, but there’s no doubt NHS staff will be approaching their limits this winter,” commented Professor Meghana Pandit, who is the NHS National Medical Director.
The NHS says it’s the busiest it has ever been heading into winter amid ‘damaging’ strikes / Credit: Stephen Andrews (via Unsplash)
“Flu is peaking early and looking like it will be long lasting, while industrial action comes on the back of the busiest October in A&E in NHS history.
“Staff continue to work incredibly hard and, as ever, the public can play their part.”
Despite the health service being stretched during this time, the public are still advised to attend any planned appointments that are scheduled during the ongoing strikes, unless they have been contacted to reschedule.
Primary and urgent and emergency care services will continue to be available for those who need them.
The public should use 111 online as the first port of call for urgent but not life-threatening issues during industrial action so that they can be directed to the best place for their needs, but patients who do need emergency medical care should continue to use 999 or come forward to A&E as normal.
Georgina Pellant -
2nd November 2021 
