Ex-Somerset councillor jailed over M25 protest reflects ahead of by-election

By Local Democracy Reporter Daniel Mumby

Former Somerset councillor, Michael Dunk, jailed for his role in a protest on the M25 has reflected on his career and his role in environmental activism.

Michael was one of two Green Party councillors elected to represent the Frome West division at the local elections in May 2022.

Known affectionately as ‘Mick’, he was among numerous Just Stop Oil activists who climbed gantries on the M25 in November 2022 to demand an end to new fossil fuel projects.

Following his release from prison and a failed appeal against his conviction, Michael was forced to step down in mid-July – with a by-election to replace him being held in the coming weeks.

Having been released on licence, he still has to see his probation officer once a month and has to give advanced notice if he is travelling outside of Somerset or further afield.

Michael had been protesting with Extinction Rebellion since 2018, having been “trying to find a release” for his concerns about climate change for a decade prior to this.

He recalled the moment in 2008 when he first became acutely aware of the problem of climate change.

He said, “I was in my workshop. My business wasn’t particularly busy at the time – I was a model maker, and it’s rather a niche market.

“I was listening to BBC Radio 4, as is my habit and I suddenly heard this article about climate change and I had one of those moments – a revelation, a sort of ‘Oh my God!’ moment.

“Because I’d got a scientific background, I was fully aware of the implications and it hit me quite hard. I remember ringing a friend, sort of tearful conversation where I said, ‘What am I going to do?’”

That conversation led to Michael joining Sustainable Frome and subsequently got involved with numerous protests in London – some of which he feels, in hindsight, were more effective than others.

He said, “Taking action with other people was definitely a release, and those actions in London were astounding. I remember doing yoga on Waterloo Bridge and sleeping there for however many nights.

“I think the last action I took with Extinction Rebellion was a complete waste of time. I glued myself to the pavement in the wrong place, because someone else had started in the wrong place.

“I just thought this wasn’t getting anywhere. Walking around London with a banner had long since stopped being effective.”

After a short break from protesting and being elected to Mendip District Council in 2019 Michael became involved with Just Stop Oil, after being dismayed by the then-Conservative government granting new oil and gas drilling licences in the North Sea.

He said, “I just thought we can’t let this happen. I felt obliged to do something, and this opportunity came up with a very well-organised group.

“Blocking the M25 is always going to raise some sort of attention and I got to the stage where I knew I was going to get arrested, because I wasn’t going to just put a banner up there and then disappear, which I could have done.

“I’ve got children and grandchildren and even if I didn’t, I’m aware of the implications of what is actually quite hard to get your head round that we’re changing the climate of our own planet, and we haven’t got another one.”

Michael and the other protesters climbed onto the M25 gantry at around 7am on 8th November 2022, tying a large ‘Just Stop Oil’ banner to the structure – with the police closing this section of the motorway to traffic shortly thereafter.

Michael was convicted as part of a group of six, of which three were pension age and three were under the age of 30.

It took until 22nd September 2025 for his case to come to the crown court, during which time National Highways (which manages the M25) charged him in the civil court for breaking its injunction – though this latter case was subsequently dismissed.

During the trial, Judge Perrins “dismissed all the defences” put forward by Michael and his five co-defendants, ruling that the jury were only to decide if they had caused disruption on the day.

Michael formally resigned from the council after the full council meeting in Bridgwater on 15th July, after being informed that his appeal against his conviction had failed.

Under the council’s constitution, anyone who has been convicted of a criminal offence and been given a prison sentence (served or suspended) of at least three months cannot remain as a councillor – leaving Michael with no choice but to stand down.

He said, “It’s a bit weird – it took me ages to decide to press ‘send’ on my resignation email. I just wanted to let the rest of the councillors know why I had to step down.”

Michael said that he hoped whoever wins the upcoming by-election would help to put climate change at the forefront of the council’s agenda.

He said, “We Greens made our mark at Mendip, because at every planning meeting where there were houses being built, we pushed for solar panels – we pushed for the best we could.

“Now, of course, we’re part of a council that’s struggling to stay afloat, and it saps all the energy. Not only that but becoming a unitary saps the energy of any council – you lose staff, you lose continuity; it is a nightmare and that’s hard to fight against.

“We feel slightly that we’re on the edge here in Frome and get ignored.

“Climate change could have been number one priority at one stage, and now it’s the cost of living and climate change is knocked down into third or something.”

The Frome West by-election to replace Michael will be held on Thursday 3rd September with polling stations being open from 7am to 10pm.

Pictured: Michael Dunk in the garden of his home in Frome. Credit: Daniel Mumby