Just Stop Oil ‘applaud’ Osborne wedding ceremony protest however say group ‘not responsible’
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ust Stop Oil (JSO) have stated they weren’t chargeable for throwing orange confetti over Tory former chancellor George Osborne at his wedding ceremony.
Mr Osborne and his spouse Thea Rogers had been strewn with the confetti by a girl following their bridal ceremony in Somerset on Saturday.
JSO spokesperson James Skeet confirmed the lady who threw the confetti was not a member of the group.
He informed the PA news company: “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 or not the group welcomed outdoors protesters taking related motion to JSO, the spokesman stated: “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.”
In a tweet on Sunday, the group, referring to “confettigate”, stated: “The lady who threw confetti in Bruton yesterday was upholding a tradition that is common across many cultures.
“We absolutely defend the right for people to throw confetti (of whatever colour) at weddings and other celebrations.
“If it was a form of protest — which is yet to be established — we applaud it and thank the person concerned. It was peaceful and not especially disruptive, but got massive media attention for Just Stop Oil’s demand.”
The group added: “However, as much as we applaud the use of orange confetti at this wedding, we were not responsible.”
Around 200 individuals, together with a string of well-known politicians and journalists, attended Mr Osborne’s wedding ceremony on Saturday amid a thriller over an electronic mail apparently despatched to visitors.
Among these attending had been former prime minister David Cameron and his spouse Samantha, former chancellor Sajid Javid and Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove.
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves stated she had “no time” for JSO.
When requested concerning the group’s ways which have most just lately included disruptions at Wimbledon and the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, Ms Reeves informed 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 counterproductive 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.”
Treasury minister Victoria Atkins condemned the interruption to Mr Osborne’s wedding ceremony.
The minister informed Sky News: “This is a couple, clearly in love, on their wedding day and somebody has apparently taken the opportunity to throw some orange dust around.”