Children should become scientists instead of climate activists, says Tory MP

5 October 2021, 05:43

Children are having activism "forced down their throats" and should train as scientists instead of joining groups like Insulate Britain or Extinction Rebellion, a Conservative MP has said.

Siobhan Baillie, the MP for Stroud, said that children should become the "problem solvers of solutions for the future" instead of calling for Government action and "catastrophising" the climate crisis.

"The first thing is we know that young people already care. We hear that teenagers want a job with heart, whatever the hell that means," said Ms Baillie at the Conservative Party conference on Monday.

"I wanted a job that made money when I was growing up, but kids are really changing now, they are going home and trying to make their parents change as well."

Read more: Senior Tories to prioritise law and order in wake of M25 protests and Everard murder

Read more: Motorist pleads with 'selfish' eco-protesters to allow her to reach mother in hospital

Ms Baillie said she had "so many letters" from school children in her constituency which "tell her off" and ask her to "tell the Prime Minister off" to take action on the climate crisis.

She added: "But what we also know is what is often on television, what is often in some ways forced down their throats, is that activism on climate means that they are seeing people lie down on motorways or they are seeing people stopping other people getting to work.

"We can make this incredibly positive. We can make it where we are not catastrophising the climate emergency.

"We can ask these children to become scientists... we can ask them to be the problem solvers of solutions for the future."

Caller insists Insulate Britain 'right' to stop driver reaching mother

In the last month, protesters from the group Insulate Britain have targeted the M25, the M4, the Port of Dover, and roads through London, lying down or sitting in the road to block cars from travelling.

A total of 38 people were arrested across the capital on Monday after Insulate Britain protestors blocked roads near the Blackwall Tunnel, Hangar Lane, Arnos Grove and Wandsworth Bridge.

Read more: Police make 38 arrests as eco protestors clash with motorists across London

Read more: Conservative Party suspends member who 'violently assaulted' woman at conference

At the conference event on the "Green Industrial Revolution", business minister Greg Hands said that the upcoming Cop26 meeting was a chance for the UK to "lead by example" by demonstrating its net zero plans.

"The UK, we need to lead by example, which is what we are doing, what we have done and we need to lead the rest of the world," said Mr Hands.

"Ultimately, the UK only provides 1 per cent of the world's emissions.

"We need to influence others, our international partners to do their share as well, the other 99 per cent.

"That is what Cop26 in Glasgow in a month's time is going to be all about."