The Financial Secretary to the Treasury tells Sophy Ridge that Just Stop Oil protests achieve “nothing”.
I don’t think that we serve our children or planet well giving in to the counsel of despair. Tackling it is more akin to an engineering challenge – one we know we can do.
The right to protest is an important part of our democracy. But this right is not absolute.
Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil use a tactical handbook written by a true fanatic, and an effective response must recognise this.
We must also teach our youth the truth about the great strides the UK has taken in addressing climate change and how lawful action is what really effects change in a democracy.
If JSO’s house style prevents us engaging with the meaningful questions of how we best combat change without a decline in living standards, then their main contribution to the debate is lowering the quality.