Eco-warrior Chris Packham slams ‘abusive’ motorists trying to get past ‘democratic, peaceful’ Just Stop Oil clowns blocking the road – as BBC star is blasted for attending eco-group’s last infuriating stunt
- The BBC star was pictured with a film crew speaking to protesters in the capital
Eco-warrior Chris Packham has slammed motorists as ‘extremely abusive’ as they try to get past Just Stop Oil clowns blocking London’s roads.
Calling the eco-mob chocking traffic on the Old Kent Road – in the South East of the capital – ‘democratic’ and peaceful’, the wildlife presenter risked a fresh BBC impartiality row.
The 62-year-old also slammed one driver as ‘dangerous’ – while video was played of one motorist who mounted the pavement as he desperately tried to get to hospital.
On the scene at the Bermondsey thoroughfare, the Springwatch presenter said: ‘Twelve protestors from Just Stop Oil have just stopped the Old Kent Road causing a significant amount of disruption, which just shows you how much trouble you can cause with just a handful of people. Peaceful, democratic people.
‘The police have been amicable throughout. No problems.
Just Stop Oil protesters are pictured on Friday holding up traffic in central London during their latest protest in the capital
Packham called the eco-mob chocking traffic on the Old Kent Road (pictured) – in the South East of the capital – ‘democratic’ and peaceful’
Chris Packham, pictured, has appeared at the latest march by Just Stop Oil eco-zealots in London today. He is understood to be filming a documentary about ‘non-violent’ protests
‘I can’t say the same for the motorists and pedestrians, who have been extremely abusive and on one occasion dangerous.’
READ MORE: Eco-warrior Chris Packham is blasted for attending ‘daft’ Just Stop Oil slow-march and warned against aligning himself with ‘selfish’ eco-groups – just weeks after outspoken BBC star sparked row for praising XR
It comes after Packham sparked an impartiality row earlier this year after urging his Twitter followers to join an Extinction Rebellion demo in the capital, was photographed filming a Channel 4 documentary on nonviolent protests near the Strand this morning.
Packham appeared to chat to the zealots and was overheard claiming: ‘If it isn’t a disruptive protest it doesn’t get news’, as the mob launched yet another slow-march on London’s roads.
A furious motorist trying to get to hospital – the footage of which was played behind Packham’s speech, which was shared by Just Stop Oil – was forced to mount the pavement after being blocked by Just Stop Oil eco-clowns.
The outraged driver branded the eco-mob ‘weasels’ and ‘a joke’ after being caught behind their latest slow-march in London.
Police pleaded with the protesters to allow the man to pass, with an officer claiming the motorist was on his way to ‘a hospital appointment’.
But the plea fell on deaf ears as climate change fanatics ignored the officer’s claim, with one stubbornly saying: ‘I don’t believe that’s case.’
The Met have since slammed the motorist and confirmed that they are investigating him for taking matters into his own hands – saying: ‘People should not intervene or take actions that might cause danger to others or cause them to commit offences.’
The 62-year-old also slammed one driver as ‘dangerous’ – while video was played of one motorist who mounted the pavement as he despertarely tried to get to hospital
He spoke in video supplied by Just Stop Oil while the protest was broken up behind him
The unrepentant conservationist continued: ‘My thoughts are simple, really. You may have been inconvenianced, I’ve been inconvenienced. I’ve been stuck back there, just like many of you might have been.
READ MORE: ‘Oi weasel! Get out of the way!’: Moment furious motorist trying to get to hospital mounts the pavement to confront Just Stop Oil eco-clowns blocking the road
‘You may not appreciate these methods – the methods are about getting us all to think about the biggest crisis in our lives and in our planet’s history.
‘But if you can’t cope with the methods think about the motivation. What has made this group of young and old people get up this morning, come to the capital – and they’ve told me they havn’t slept, they’re intimidated, they’re anxious.
‘What has made them come here and protest like this? Fear. The fact that they can’t imagine a future.
‘You’ve got to have some sympathy for that – even if you are five minutes late to work.’
Packham was also blasted by the Countryside Alliance today for ‘alienating the public’ and risking a fresh BBC impartiality row after he rocked up to Just Stop Oil’s latest infuriating stunt in London.
Speaking to the MailOnline, Tim Bonner, chief executive of the Countryside Alliance, suggested Packham’s actions could spark an impartiality row at the BBC.
He said: ‘Groups like Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising are simply alienating the public with their daft stunts and selfish behaviour.
Chris Packham is pictured on the fourth day of The Big One climate change protest outside parliament, staged by Extinction Rebellion in April 2023
‘Chris Packham should be very careful aligning himself with groups that cause so much misery to hardworking people, not least because of the reputational damage to the RSPCA and the BBC who he is closely associated with.’
READ MORE: The eco-clowns unmasked: How serial protester, architect and ‘therapeutic gardener’ who flew from the UK to Australia were among Just Stop Oil and Animal Rising mob causing chaos at royal farm and Chelsea Flower Show
Packahm’s support for XR, which is affiliated to Just Stop Oil, was blasted this week after he was appointed president of the RSPCA.
Mr Bonner continued: ‘This is a strange decision from an organisation which has done so much to rebuild its reputation over recent years.’
Calling Packham ‘a controversial figure’, he added: ‘By linking itself to Mr Packham the RSPCA will be alienating many people who have an important role in protecting the welfare of both domestic and wild animals.
Followers of Packham have previously accused the BBC Springwatch co-presenter of ‘using your celebrity platform to cause mayhem and disruption’.
It came after the star last month urged people to join an XR rally outside parliament – one which attended. In response, the BBC stressed that ‘social media guidance for freelancers is ongoing’.
It’s not the first time Packham has faced a BBC probe for his comments; he previously triggered outrage in 2013 after branding government officials ‘brutalist thugs, liars and frauds’ in a series of tweets.
BBC bosses launched an investigation into the posts following a complaint by the Countryside Alliance which claimed they went against the corporation’s impartiality rules.
It found Packham breached a BBC voluntary code of conduct as the tweets were not politically neutral.
Packham’s backing for Extinction Rebellion, set up by Welshman Roger Hallam who co-founded Just Stop Oil, was criticised again this week after he was appointed president of the RSPCA.
Chris Packham was pictured on Friday morning talking to one of the Just Stop Oil campaigners as almost 40 members from the eco group caused mayhem with three slow-marches
A line of police could be seen talking to protesters in London before they were removed from the road on Friday morning
Chris Packham was pictured in April on a Facebook live video by Just Stop Oil speaking to supporters about the XR protest in Parliament
A spokesperson for the RSPCA told MailOnline: ‘We work with a huge range of individuals and organisations to improve animal welfare. We are really excited to welcome Chris Packham as President of the RSPCA.
‘Chris is much loved and a well respected voice for all animals who speaks to a wide range of society.
‘Stepping up into the Presidential role is a natural next step and we are looking forward to working with him closer to create a better world for animals.’
Today’s Just Stop Oil chaos is the group’s fifth week of causing daily mayhem in the capital with its slow marches, which have left city commuters fuming.
Almost 40 campaigners in three groups took to the streets this morning in West End, Maida Vale and Tottenham.
The largest march, in The Strand, central London, was broken up by police at 8.30am.
While the other two mini-marches of four people each, finished by 9.15am. No arrests have been made. Further marches are expected later this morning.
In footage, one furious motorist can be seen confronting one of the mini marches, grabbing one protester’s sign and throwing it away before yelling: ‘Take you f****** signs and f*** off.’
The furious driver, in the white jacket, was filmed yelling at protesters during one of Just Stop Oil’s mini-marches on Friday
The angry driver confronted the group, who were blocking the road, before taking one of their signs and throwing it to the ground
In similar scenes, another man was seen venting his fury at Just Stop Oil protesters as they blocked roads in London
In one of two mini marches, four campaigners blocked streets holding signs saying ‘life of suffering’ and ‘we march for survival’
Some of the eco-mob pictured in London on Friday as they marched on the capital
One of those taking part in today’s action was grandmother and retired teacher Catherine Rennie-Nash, from Kendal, Cumbria.
She said: ‘I will remain in civil resistance for as long as it takes. I owe this to my grandchildren. It’s about time our government ministers grew-up and took a global lead in ending these unnecessary new fossil fuels projects.
‘Until they do, I will be doing all I can to bring their genocidal activity to the attention of the wider population, marching in the same way those who have fought injustice have always done
Their protest came after the eco-fanatics caused outrage yesterday by kidnapping three lambs from a royal farm and attacking the Chelsea Flower Show.
They were warned their stunts, which raised animal welfare fears and caused costly damage, would destroy any public sympathy they had.
Three Just Stop Oil activists vandalised a show garden at Chelsea Flower Show
A woman dampened the protest by grabbing a hose pipe and drenching the three intruders until she was stopped by a security guard
The incidents are the latest in a series that includes a paint attack on the World Snooker Championships and a bid to sabotage the Grand National.
Parliament might now have to bring in stronger punishments, according to Tory veteran Peter Bone.
The MP said: ‘When a very, very tiny minority is ruining the lives of other people, action needs to be taken. If this were to continue and the current laws are not strong enough, the Government will have to introduce new laws.
‘We are not talking about peaceful protest. This completely ruins the lives of the vast majority of people. We just can’t carry on like this.’
Yesterday’s chaos began with three Animal Rising activists presenting themselves to Slough Police after announcing they had taken three lambs from Appleton Farm on the royal Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
They included Rose Patterson, 33, who was previously arrested on suspicion of leading the group’s plot to sabotage the Grand National, as uncovered by The Mail on Sunday.
The three activists said they rescued the lambs – dubbed Sammy, Sunny and Sooty – late on Wednesday night to save them from slaughter.
The militants and the lambs Sammy, Sunny and Sooty torn away from their mothers. 1. The rebellion regular: Rose Patterson is a full-time animal rights activist 2. The property queen: Sara Foy and 3. Climate crusader: Rosa Sharkey says she has dedicated herself to ‘climate and animal activism’ for years
Naomi Goddard (pictured left) was heard to shout: ‘Humanity is failing. Everything that you hold dear is in peril. The flower gardens that you treasure. The buildings that you adore. Our traditions. What is the point of a garden if you can’t feed yourself?’
After concerns were raised that the animals – whose location is unknown – would be distressed after being separated from their mothers, the group claimed taking the ewes as well was not possible. They said they ‘hid’ the lambs before handing themselves in.
An hour later three Just Stop Oil activists vandalised a show garden at Chelsea Flower Show.
Charity co-ordinator Stephanie Golder, 35, retired landscape engineer Naomi Goddard, 58, and disability support worker Rosa Hicks, 28, threw orange powder paint from their handbags across the flowers and hard landscaping of the RBC Brewin Dolphin garden.
Goddard was heard to shout: ‘Humanity is failing. Everything that you hold dear is in peril. The flower gardens that you treasure.
‘The buildings that you adore. Our traditions. What is the point of a garden if you can’t feed yourself?’
A woman dampened the protest by grabbing a hose pipe and drenching the three intruders until she was stopped by a security guard.
Just Stop Oil says since it launched its campaign of action, on February 14 2022, its activists had been arrested more than 2,100, with 138 spending time in jail.
There are currently two Just Stop Oil campaigners serving three-year prison sentences for taking part in it’s protests.
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