Just Stop Oil ‘applaud’ Osborne wedding protest but say group ‘not responsible’
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Just Stop Oil (JSO) have said they were not responsible for throwing orange confetti over Tory former chancellor George Osborne at his wedding.
Mr Osborne and his wife Thea Rogers were strewn with the confetti by a woman following their marriage ceremony in Somerset on Saturday.
JSO spokesperson James Skeet confirmed the woman who threw the confetti 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 JSO, the spokesman said: “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”, said: “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 people, including a string of well-known politicians and journalists, attended Mr Osborne’s wedding on Saturday amid a mystery over an email apparently sent to guests.
Among those attending were former prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha, former chancellor Sajid Javid and Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove.
Meanwhile, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said she had “no time” for JSO.
When asked about the group’s tactics which have most recently included disruptions at Wimbledon and the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, Ms 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 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.
The minister told 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.”
