AN INSULATE Britain activist stormed out of the GMB studios this morning after a fiery clash with presenters over the M25 protests.
Eco-warrior with an attitude, Liam Norton was hostile with hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley from the off and refused to answer questions.
Susanna warned him: "don't patronise me" during the heated exchange - as he awkwardly tried to swerve discussing The Sun on Sunday's exclusive revelation that his own home isn't insulated.
The 36-year-old even extraordinarily compared himself to Sir Winston Churchill for fronting the group's climate campaign.
He was on the show for the second time in two weeks to defend his group's continual disruption of traffic on the M25 by setting up human blockades.
Things got off to a frosty start, with Susanna quizzing Norton over Insulate Britain's controversial methods.
He retorted: "If you understood it [climate change] you might start to understand the [protests] a little bit more."
Susanna hit back: "Liam, just try not to be so patronising when you're talking to me, OK. I understand."He responded: "It's not about patronising, it's the truth."
Standing firm, she said: "No, it is. It's patronising."
Richard and Susanna then grilled the electrician about The Sun on Sunday's exclusive revelation about the insulation in his own home.
We previously revealed electrician Norton’s property uses gas central heating and is single-glazed, with no insulation in cavity walls.
A shocked Susanna asked: "So you are saying you would risk your life for Insulate Britain... but you're not going to insulate your own home?
"That sounds like you're completely sabotaging your cause."
HYPOCRISY
The property in South West London is owned by a housing association, but residents can claim grants for improvements.
A stony-faced Norton slammed the GMB hosts for "debasing the discussion" while journalist Dawn Neesom encouraged him to answer the questions.
And Richard once again branded the Extinction Rebellion off shoot group "fascists" for their controversial methods.
Norton then unbelievably likened the cause to Winston Churchill's stand against fascism and Adolf Hitler - much to Richard Madeley's disbelief.
"You're comparing yourself to Churchill? That is the most twisted parallel I think I have ever heard."
Madeley also asked Norton how he slept at night after a woman was paralysed after being held up in a traffic jam for six hours following a stroke.
Norton raged: "We've been writing letters for 30 years, we've been writing petitions for 30 years, we've been pleading with the government for 30 years and what we're saying to the government is this, this is our line in the sand.
"We're demanding the government makes a meaningful statement to save the future."
He then made a physical statement of his own as he got up and stormed out of the studios while Richard laughed.
Norton previously hit the headlines earlier this year during a trial regarding blockading The Sun’s printing plant near Broxbourne, Herts in September last year.
He glued his hand to a court table while ranting that the proceedings were "illegal" - leaving him "no option but to disobey and show contempt."
The stunt caused a three-hour delay while his hand was freed, costing taxpayers thousands of pounds in wasted court time and staff pay.
INJUNCTION
Norton's on-air outburst today comes as National Highways was granted an injunction against motorway protestors by a judge - coming into effect later today.
He told MPs this morning: "We do not think it's acceptable to go and stand on a road - it's bloody dangerous. It's obviously inconvenient.
"It's also counterproductive. It actually creates pollution to have the traffic standing still.
"I share the annoyance and anger of motorists and everyone else and I hope the court action I prompted National Highways into is of considerable assistance."
It means activists will face possible imprisonment for contempt of court, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced.
He and Home Secretary Priti Patel after being left "furious" at the group's "guerrilla tactics".
Insulate Britain blocked the M25 five times last week, causing travel chaos for thousands of Brits.
QUICK COPS
Just yesterday morning, the protest group took their reckless methods up a peg, by running into the path of oncoming traffic in both directions of m25 carriageways.
But the disruption between Junctions 9 and 10 near Cobham, Surrey was swiftly dealt with by waiting cops - beginning at 8.10am and ending at 9am.
Police arrested 38 activists. It came after PM Boris Johnson backed "swift action" by cops.
Norton, 36, told Good Morning Britain in his first appearance: "What we are doing in the next three to four years will determine the future of humanity."
He was challenged by host Richard who said he could be holding up a child on their way for cancer treatment.
Norton said in a statement: "This is a good example of one of Britain’s leaky homes and why we need the Government to get on with the job."
"WE HATE DOING IT"
Activists last week blocked one carriageway of the major road but this is the first time they have managed to block both.
Zoe Cohen from the group told LBC: "It’s not about justifying it. What we know is that our government is failing to protect British families.
"Thousands will die this winter from fuel poverty. Millions of families will struggle.
"We hate doing it, we hate doing it - please, please - will you please ask government to write reasonable statement and get us off the road. We don't want to do this.
“If the government met our demands to insulate and retrofit social housing and the rest of the homes in Britain, it would save thousands of lives."
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