One of Just Stop Oil’s top donors has announced he will stop funding the eco-group and will instead focus on an anti-Conservative campaign.
Dale Vince, who has donated to both climate activists and Labour, said continued disruption was “pointless” as the government will not change its stance on oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
The Ecotricity founder said he will divert his efforts to a new cause called Just Vote, which encourages young people and first-time voters to exercise their democratic right.
In a statement, Mr Vince said: “It’s a fact of our electoral system that only one of two parties can form the next government; we want to bring a focus to this reality and to the opportunity that we have – to elect a green government, one that will embrace the opportunities we face, rather than make an enemy of them – and use them to tackle the long list of issues we face as a country.”
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Labour have promised to ban the granting of new licences to explore oil and gas fields in the North Sea.
Mr Vince applauded the “conviction and commitment” of Just Stop Oil, whose demonstrations he has funded since the group began, but suggested further action would play into the government’s hand by feeding the “culture war”.
“While I understand the frustration that people feel, I believe that further protests and the disruption that comes with them are pointless. I would go further and say they would be counterproductive,” he said.
“Consequently, I’m no longer going to fund protest but will instead switch all of my time, effort and funding to a new cause.”
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It comes after Rishi Sunak watered down efforts to tackle the climate crisis, including a five-year delay to the ban on new fossil fuel cars, to avoid a public “backlash”.
Labour have pledged to retain the 2030 target for electric cars if it wins the next election.
Mr Vince’s status as a backer of the group has sparked calls from Conservatives for Labour to return donations from him, arguing it legitimises their tactics.
Mr Sunak has also sought to highlight Mr Vince’s support, saying it showed “eco-zealots” from Just Stop Oil are “writing Keir Starmer’s energy policy”.
Labour have rejected suggestions Just Stop Oil influences its policies, and defended receiving donations from Mr Vince – saying he is a “perfectly legitimate person” to accept money from.
Polling has suggested Britons support measures to tackle climate change, but the balance shifts when asked their opinion if such actions dealt a blow to their personal finances.
