Just Stop Oil funder issues warning to more high profile sports competitions

Just Stop Oil protesters have been increasingly active in recent months.

The group stormed Wimbledon’s hallowed turf on Wednesday, disrupting two matches on Court 18 by throwing confetti and jigsaw pieces across the grass.

Activists were apprehended storming the first over of England’s second Ashes test against Australia at Lord’s last week.

The group also made similar interventions at the World Snooker Championship and Gallagher Premiership final at Twickenham.

Vince told The Guardian: “I don’t think the premise for choosing where to protest is based on that kind of criteria.

“Is cricket good or bad? I don’t think that’s the question.

“It’s about how much disruption can we cause, how many headlines can we grab.

“It’s about high-profile stuff. So if you’re a high-profile sport, I would say that probably you might be on the target list. That’s my reading of it.”

The 61-year-old, who stressed he was not privy to Just Stop Oil’s future plans, added: “You’re going to upset people when you disrupt things, that’s for sure.

“But look, the cricket was disrupted for three or four minutes.

“The UN says four million people have lost their lives in the climate crisis so far.

“Other data shows that 20 million people globally are made homeless every year.

“Compared to that, a few minutes’ delay at a sporting event really is nothing.”

Vince’s involvement in Just Stop Oil has raised eyebrows with Conservative MPs.

Tory Party Chairman Greg Hands urged Labour to hand back cash donated by Vince to Sir Keir Starmer’s party.

Vince, the founder of green energy firm Ecotricity, has given around £1.5million to Labour over the past decade.

However, Labour’s Shadow International Trade Secretary stressed the British businessman is a “perfectly legitimate person” to take money from.

Despite Labour’s defending its connection with Vince, Starmer blasted Just Stop Oil activists by labelling them arrogant.

The Leader of the Opposition said: “I just think they need to just stop. Particularly this last week, they've been interrupting iconic sporting events, causing massive disruption.

“There's a huge arrogance involved, that they're the only people that understand the argument, that their tactics are going to win.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak doubled-down on Conservative criticism of Vince.

He told Tory members on Wednesday: “While Labour rely on the finances of eco-fanatics like Dale Vince, we rely on the support of ordinary people like yourself.

“We are taking tough action against Just Stop Oil’s campaign to block roads, glue themselves to petrol stations, disrupt sporting events and destroy priceless works of art.”