• Earlier in March, Greenpeace activists wearing trunks, flip-flops and caps have lined up outside Rishi Sunak’s £2 million Grade-II listed mansion to protest against the UK’s outdated national grid

Greenpeace protesters have clambered onto the roof of Rishi Sunak‘s Yorkshire manor house to protest against new oil and gas drilling.

Four activists were pictured on the roof of the Grade II listed property, which was blanketed in black fabric.

Two protesters held a sign up in the foreground saying: ‘Rishi Sunak – Oil profits or our future?’

Greenpeace tweeted: ‘Climbers are on the roof of Rishi Sunak’s mansion draping it in 200 metres of oily-black fabric to drive home the dangerous consequences of a new drilling frenzy. Whilst we’re on his roof, can you tweet at him now to #StopRosebank and commit to #NoNewOil.’

It comes after the Prime Minister announced plans for more oil and gas exploration in the North Sea, with more than 100 new drilling licences expected to be approved in the autumn.

Mr Sunak departed for a family holiday in California yesterday afternoon so was not at home in his Richmond constituency this morning.

A source said: ‘The police are in attendance. We make no apology for taking the right approach to ensure our energy security, using the resources we have here at home so we are never reliant on aggressors like (Vladimir) Putin for our energy. We are also investing in renewables and our approach supports 1000s of British jobs.’

Philip Evans, Greenpeace UK’s climate campaigner, said: ‘We desperately need our Prime Minister to be a climate leader, not a climate arsonist. Just as wildfires and floods wreck homes and lives around the world, Sunak is committing to a massive expansion of oil and gas drilling.

‘He seems quite happy to hold a blowtorch to the planet if he can score a few political points by sowing division around climate in this country. This is cynical beyond belief.

‘Sunak is even willing to peddle the old myth about new oil and gas helping ordinary people struggling with energy bills when he knows full well it’s not true. More North Sea drilling will only benefit oil giants who stand to make even more billions from it, partly thanks to a giant loophole in Sunak’s own windfall tax.’

The Prime Minister triggered fury from campaigners, unions and MPs for continuing to back polluting fossil fuels as the world faces record temperatures and wildfires blaze in Europe.

Tory MP Chris Skidmore, a former net zero tsar, blasted the PM’s decision. He said: ‘This is the wrong decision at precisely the wrong time.’

Mr Sunak pitched the move as a bid to slash household bills and reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas.

But an old tweet emerged from last February, when Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands – then an Energy Minister – admitted in a tweet: ‘We do want to import less gas, but more UK production wouldn’t reduce the global price of gas.’

Earlier in March, Greenpeace activists wearing trunks, flip-flops and caps have lined up outside Rishi Sunak’s £2 million Grade-II listed mansion to protest against the UK’s outdated national grid.

It was claimed that the prime minister had paid to upgrade the electricity grid in his North Yorkshire constituency to power his new £400,000 heated swimming pool.

It is understood he has built a 40ft pool in the grounds of his home, alongside a gym and tennis court.