Downing Street has accused BBC presenter Chris Packham of being “irresponsible” after he said Just Stop Oil had the right to protest outside MPs’ homes despite concerns for their safety.
Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said police would consider such demonstrations to be “intimidating” and use their powers to take action against protesters in line with a policing deal agreed last week.
The Prime Minister last week said “mob rule” posed a threat to the country and urged those taking part in a series of mass protests across Britain since the war in the Middle East began not to allow extremists to “hijack” their marches.
Several MPs in the House of Commons have spoken out about an increase in abuse and threats since the latest clashes began in October, with three female MPs understood to have received taxpayer-funded bodyguards and cars.
Packham, 62, defended the right of environmental campaigners to target MPs’ homes as long as their actions were “peaceful and non-violent”.
“I think we basically need a series of protests because we need a radical wing and a lot of people think Stop the Oil is that radical wing,” he told Times Radio on Monday.
“In the eyes of some, they’ve gone too far. You know, that could be standing outside a congressman’s house. But the fact is, they’re motivated, as I am, by a clear fear for our future health. .
“The science tells us we have to take action. These are people who are scared for my future, your future, the future of the children they might have. They need to bring attention to this issue.”
He added: “If this is a peaceful, non-violent demonstration then we in the UK – despite recent sweeping changes to all the laws – must retain the right to protest. We have the laws in place and it needs to be equal Applies to everyone.”
Stop Oil has staged protests outside the homes of Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer. Last summer, Greenpeace campaigners climbed onto the roof of the Prime Minister’s home in his Yorkshire constituency to protest against his support for a massive expansion of North Sea drilling.
Ministers are considering proposals to limit MPs and MPs’ contact with protest groups and to set up counter-extremism teams within escalation departments.
Sunak’s official spokesman said on Monday: “It would be patently irresponsible to encourage people to protest at MPs’ home addresses. “That is why the Democratic Policing Agreement agreed last week that any protests held at MPs’ home addresses All will be considered an act of intimidation and police will use their powers to steer protesters away from them.
“We’ve seen examples of this, whether it’s Tobias Ellwood’s home being surrounded by protesters or other MPs’ constituency offices… whose families have been intimidated. We’ve seen examples of this being clearly unacceptable. , the public are right to expect the police to address this type of behaviour.”
Packham added in the radio interview: “Just Stop Oil wants what’s on their T-shirts. They want a fast, just energy transition from fossil fuels to a healthy renewable energy system, and they need get that message across, and they’re desperate to do that. So I would support widespread protests.
“That doesn’t mean you and I need to stand outside MPs’ houses. I’m taking a legal approach, a fully democratic approach, which I can take as a British citizen. But yes, We’re on the same page.”
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
