Playing Politics?

A majority (66%) of people, in a UK survey, support non-violent action on environmental issues. 75% also favoured solar power being installed on farmland. There was also little enthusiasm for fracking (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/24/huge-uk-public-support-for-direct-action-to-protect-environment-poll). The respondants believed that the current UK government is far from committed to protecting the environment. It's all the odder then, that the Leader of the main opposition party supports the government's plan for long prison sentences for road-blocking protesters (https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/24/keir-starmer-backs-stiff-sentences-for-climate-protesters-who-block-roads). That opposition leader promises that, if he comes to power, no new oil and gas extractions will be licensed. He seems happy, however, for all 'inherited' functioning instalations to be maintained. In actuality, substantial reductions in the use of oil and gas will be needed, to have any chance of limiting global heating to 1.5 degrees Centigrade above pre-Industrial levels. The UK's general population appear more concerned about climate change than either their government or its main opposition party. Folk might not be happy for road-blocking protesters to get longer prison sentences than people convicted of assault and battery.