10th April 2022: Doctors for XR members block Lambeth Bridge with seven arrests

On Sunday 10th April Doctors for XR joined other climate activists to stage a blockade of Lambeth Bridge as part of a two-day protests in the centre of London. Hundreds of protesters prevented cars and buses crossing the bridge but ambulances were let through. Most protesters left by 4.30pm but a group of approximately thirty health professionals, including former Editor in Chief of the British Medical Journal, Dr Fiona Godlee, elected to continue the blockade to make their own protest.[1,2] They displayed a banner saying ‘For Health’s Sake. Stop Financing Fossil Fuels’, to highlight the estimated £10 billion in annual  financial support the government gives to the fossil fuel industry, according to the OECD. [3]

Thirty minutes later, seven members of the group were arrested.

This followed an earlier protest on World Health Day, the 7th April, when the group blocked the road outside HM Treasury, while delivering a letter requesting ‘the removal of UK financial support for fossil fuels’. The Treasury made no immediate response but replied to the letter in May. [4]

[1] ITV: Extinction Rebellion blocks London bridges on second day of mass protest

[2] BBC: Extinction Rebellion protests block Vauxhall and Lambeth bridges

[3] OECD: Inventory of support measures for fossil fuels: country notes. United Kingdom

[4] Doctors for XR: Letters to and responses from the Treasury