Chris Packham branded ‘irresponsible’ by No10 for defending protests at MPs’ houses

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Downing Street has criticised BBC presenter Chris Packham for being “irresponsible” after he mentioned activists have a proper to reveal outdoors the houses of MPs.

The prime minister’s official spokesman mentioned police forces would label such demonstrations “intimidatory” and transfer on protesters below a brand new policing protocol.

The 62-year-old Winterwatch presenter got here below fireplace for supporting local weather activist group Just Stop Oil’s controversial strikes to assemble outdoors politicians’ houses, so long as they had been “peaceful and non-violent”.

In an interview with Times Radio on Monday he mentioned: “I think that we need a portfolio of protests, basically, because we need a radical flank and Just Stop Oil are seen by many as that radical flank.

“They are the people who in some people’s minds go a step too far. And that might be, you know, standing outside an MP’s house. But the fact is that they are motivated, as I am, by a manifest fear for the health of our future.

“The science tells us we have to act. These people are frightened for my future, for your future, for the future of any children they might have. They need to draw attention to this issue.”

But Rishi Sunak’s spokesman mentioned on Monday: “Any protests at the home addresses of MPs, councillors and other elected representatives will be considered intimidatory.

“We have seen examples whether it’s Tobias Ellwood’s home being surrounded by protesters, whether it’s other MPs’ constituency offices and there are examples from other MPs about the intimidation their families have suffered, we have seen examples that are clearly unacceptable.”

When requested about Mr Packham, the spokesperson responded: “It is clearly irresponsible to encourage people to protest at the home address of MPs.”

Several MPs have spoken out about a rise in threats and abuse because the begin of the Israel-Gaza battle in October.

Police had been known as when round 80 activists gathered outdoors Tobias Ellwood’s house in Dorset final month, brandishing flags, placards and a megaphone.

One signal had the phrases “complicit in genocide” written throughout the face of the MP, who chaired the defence choose committee from 2020 till final 12 months.

Just Stop Oil has a historical past of gathering outdoors MPs’ houses, and activists have additionally focused Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer’s houses.

Mr Packham is enthusiastic about local weather points and has not too long ago been granted permission for a judicial overview of the Government’s resolution to reverse a few of its inexperienced insurance policies.

He despatched a problem to Mr Sunak in October after the federal government watered down insurance policies aimed at serving to to chop UK climate-warming emissions to zero total by 2050, often called internet zero.

Mr Sunak introduced the rollback in September, which included delaying the ban on the sale of latest diesel and petrol vehicles from 2030 to 2035, decreasing the phase-out of fuel boilers from 100% to 80% by 2035, and scrapping the requirement for vitality effectivity upgrades for houses.

The prime minister mentioned the UK’s method to internet zero was imposing “unacceptable costs on hard-pressed British families”.

In an announcement on Monday, legislation agency Leigh Day, which is representing Mr Packham, mentioned Mr Justice Eyre had granted permission for the authorized problem to be heard in courtroom.