Boris Johnson vows crackdown on eco warriors blocking UK’s roads will ‘insulate them snugly in prison where they belong’

BORIS Johnson today vowed eco zealots who block Britain's roads will be sent to jail in a fresh crackdown on their disruptive protests.

The PM warned activists who repeatedly cause traffic chaos he's passing new powers to "insulate them snugly in prison where they belong".

In his keynote speech to the Conservative conference in Manchester today he insisted the Tories are determined to end the chaos.

He thundered: "Those people gluing themselves to roads, I don’t call them legitimate protestors like some Labour councillors do.

"Some Labour councillors actually glue themselves to roads

"I say they are a confounded nuisance who are blocking ambulances, stopping people going about their daily lives

"And I am glad Priti is taking new powers to insulate them snugly in prison where they belong."

Theresa Norton, a councillor for Labour in Scarborough, was arrested four times in eight days for taking part in protests.

She is the mum of Insulate Britain ringleader Liam Norton.

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Priti Patel this week announced a new crackdown on the activists as she comes under increasing pressure to end the carnage.

Cops will be handed powers to arrest repeat climate protesters before they glue themselves to the Tarmac.

The Home Secretary vowed to stop the "misery and disruption" of caused by motorway eco zealots who are "trampling over our way of life".

She is beefing up stop-and-search rules so people can be held if suspected of carrying heavy-duty locks or industrial-strength glue near motorways, airports and ports.

Protesters could now be handed six months’ jail or an unlimited fine by magistrates immediately after arrest.

'Asbos for crusties'

Mrs Patel said: "It is because of our commitment to putting the needs of the hardworking, often silent, majority first, that I will not tolerate so called ecowarriors, trampling over our way of life and draining police resources.

"Their actions over recent weeks have amounted to some of the most self-defeating ‘environmental’ protests this country has ever seen.

"Freedom to protest is a fundamental right our Party will forever fight to uphold. But it must be within the law."

A Tory source dubbed the powers “ASBOs for crusties”.

Under the landmark powers a new offence of “interfering with critical infrastructure” will be created.

Mrs Patel said this will mean police can "deal with the small minority of offenders intent on travelling around the country, causing disruption and misery across our communities".

It came after Insulate Britain’s founder and mastermind Roger Hallam, 55, insisted he would block an ambulance carrying a dying person.

He told the Unbreak the Planet podcast: “I’d stay there. Yeah”

Meanwhile anger boiled over as Insulate Britain blocked key London routes on an 11th day of action.

A tearful daughter rushing to her 81-year-old mum in hospital begged protesters to let her pass at the Blackwall Tunnel. But they refused.

At Wandsworth Bridge drivers took the law into their own hands and pulled protesters from the road to make way for an ambulance.

Hanger Lane, West London, was also blocked. By noon 38 people were arrested.