Chris Packham has insisted ‘Just Stop Oil’ has the right to protest outside the homes of MPs.
Chris Packham has insisted Just Stop Oil has the right to protest outside the homes of MPs
The 62-year-old broadcaster, who presents ’Winterwatch’, has been giving the organisation “conditional” support for years, whilst the group have begun campaigning outside MPs homes to raise awareness for environmental decline.
After the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned “mob rule” was a threat to the country, Chris has emphasised the protests need to be “preserved” as long as they remain non-violent.
During an appearance on Times Radio, he said: “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. And that is on a foundation of understanding of very good science. We listen to the science. The science tells us we have to act.”
Previously, Chris admitted he was worried he could be the target of “considerable violence” from “climate change deniers” after he voiced his opinions on ‘Just Stop Oil’.
He told Saga Magazine: “I had a death threat sent by email last week that was reported to the police.
“A threat of violence the previous week. On my social media platforms, the climate change deniers, the pro-shooting, pro-hunting lobbies are very active daily. I spend quite a lot of time alone in the countryside with my dogs and you don’t know who’s around the next corner.”
The TV star also revealed he had taken on extra security for ‘Springwatch’ after “specific threats” were made against him.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “A couple of times recently, before the Watches, we’ve had specific threats for me. So we’ve had a person who’s there and stays at the hotel, and then goes with me to the place.”
“We have had several threats recently that are not death threats but they’re saying, ‘We’re going to harm you.’ And they come, unbelievably, from emails. We’ve got the person’s email address, obviously, I’ve reported them to the police.”