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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Bill McLoughlin

Rachel Reeves: Just Stop Oil’s tactics are ‘pathetic’

The shadow chancellor said she has “got no time” for Just Stop Oil, after recent protests.

The group has targeted a series of events over the last few months including the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, the World Snooker Championship, Wimbledon and Rugby’s Gallagher Premiership final.

Rachel Reeves told the Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme on Sky News: “I have got no time for Just Stop Oil. To be honest, I think it is a bit pathetic and quite tedious disrupting tennis, snooker, other people’s weddings.

“If they want to tackle climate change, engage in the policy answers, but they are not building support for their cause, they are doing the exact opposite.

“So it is counter-productive and it is rude frankly.

“People paid to go to Wimbledon, it may be the one time in their life that they get to Wimbledon, they don’t want to be disrupted by a load of protesters.”

On Saturday, George Osborne and his new wife Thea Rogers were covered in orange confetti.

Just Stop Oil tweeted at the time: “You look good in orange @George_Osborne — congratulations to the newlyweds.”

Just Stop Oil spokesperson James Skeet later confirmed the protester at Mr Osborne's wedding was not a member of the group.

He told the PA news agency: "Unfortunately, we can't claim credit for the orange confetti on this one, but we wish the happy couple well."

Mr Skeet added: "I neither condemn nor praise it. I don't know who that lady is."

Asked whether the group welcomed outside protesters taking similar action to Just Stop Oil, the spokesman added: "As a policy, Just Stop Oil is always accountable for our actions. You will know it is us because we will admit to it.

"The fact that we were vague last night implies that it wasn't really us.

"If orange confetti is the symbol of the revolution then so be it, but obviously you can always guarantee that we will be accountable for any actions that we undertake."

Around 200 people, including a string of well-known politicians and journalists, had attended the wedding of the former chancellor of the Exchequer, 52, and his former aide, 40-year-old Thea Rogers at the 14th Century St Mary’s Church in the Somerset village of Bruton.

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