Sir Keir Starmer accused of ‘pandering to eco-loons’ after vow to block new North Sea oil and gas licences
SIR Keir Starmer was last night accused of “pandering to eco-loons” after Just Stop Oil launched yet more chaotic protests.
The Labour boss was under pressure to flip-flop again by abandoning his promise to ditch new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.
The eco-group immediately claimed victory in forcing Labour into bowing to their demands, but last night stepped up with even more mayhem on the streets of London.
The group’s founder, wealthy donor Dale Vince, has handed at least £380,000 to the Labour boss and the party since the last election.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said the only ones happy with the new policy would be Putin.
He raged: “When the only ones happy with your policy are Just Stop Oil & Putin you may want to flip-flop again Keir Starmer.
“Your plan will mean stalled growth, higher emissions from hydrocarbon imports, British workers jobless and energy insecurity by failing to power Britain from Britain.”
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said Sir Keir was “in bed” with Just Stop Oil donors.
And Tory chairman Greg Hands accused him “legitimised” the group by giving in to them and demanded he give back the cash.
He told The Sun: “Just Stop Oil have claimed victory in getting Sir Keir Starmer to bow to their bonkers demands in exchange for millions of pounds of donations from climate activists.
“But just 24 hours later these eco-loons are out on the street causing yet more mayhem.
“This economically and environmentally illiterate policy will do nothing but leave our national energy security at risk and kill off tens of thousands of jobs.
“Sir Keir’s pandering is only encouraging these eco-loons to keep disrupting ordinary people’s lives.”
And Howard Cox, FairFuel UK campaigner, added: “Starmer’s pronouncement to dump sourcing safe, secure low-cost energy is crass.
“His alleged love affair with the well-financed Just Stop Oil regime has clearly blurred his political judgement.”
Yesterday activists from the extremist group appeared in court after a pitch invasion at Twickenham on Saturday, where they threw orange cornflour all over it.
Speaking outside the court in south-west London, Patrick Hart, 37, accused of criminal damage and aggravated trespass, said: “We are going to keep disrupting sports events, and causing disruption, until our demands are met.”