Laws already exist to stop eco hysteria

FIRST they came for our city streets and bridges, and the police did nothing. Indeed in some instances, they joined in with some skateboarding and singing. Then they came for our busy motorways and the police offered blankets and warm drinks. Then they glued themselves to priceless works of art or caused criminal damage to the offices of companies whose activities they oppose.

Then one of the biggest days on the sporting calendar was targeted, the Grand National at Aintree, and their actions contributed to the tragic death of one of the competing horses, certainly in the view of its trainer, who would surely know what he was talking about.

And last week it was the snooker, where people had spent hundreds of pounds to get a ticket to the World Championship in Sheffield, but whose evening was wrecked by a demonstrator hurling orange dye over himself and the table’s green baize.

And today while some protest groups have given reassurances there will be no disturbances, what’s the betting the London Marathon will fall victim to the unlawful and indiscriminate action of protesters who seem to believe they are possessed of an unalienable right to disrupt who, or what they like, in any fashion they so choose?

Make no mistake, I’m no climate change denier. If you remain in any doubt about the environmental challenges facing the planet, just cast your minds back to under a year ago when nearly all of the country sweated its way through a considerable part of the summer that was simply too hot to handle.

Then look further afield and see forest fires in places such as the US and Australia and catastrophic flooding across much of Asia and the

Pacific.you cannot – and shouldn’t even try to – get away from the looming crisis we face and it needs concerted, decisive action and clear, globally enforced policies to steer a course to tackling the complex issues.

What it most certainly does not need is the continued, concerted efforts of an increasingly vocal and lawless group of hysterical self-righteous campaigners who are utterly persuaded that the merits of their goals justify any form of protest.

As a sort of mélange has formed of these groups, encompassing Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil, Greenpeace and Animal Rising, many members have taken on all the hallmarks of behaving as if they were in a cult. Their cause is just and nothing, literally nothing, should be off limits if it gets their message across and anyone opposing them is either a climate denier who wants to end all human life on Earth or a Right-wing fascist.

Ambulances can be delayed, vital medical treatment denied, funerals disrupted and work ceased because they say so.

Regrettably, for too long these selfish zealots have been indulged by the police and the courts. Ordinary folk who are trying to put in a day’s shift (or get home after one) look on in astonishment as police reroute or halt traffic to ensure the safety of the protesters who’ve brought everything to a juddering stop. People who try understandably to take matters into their own hands and clear the roads by moving Swampy and Co. on are warned they could be causing an offence.

Reacting to news that some of the 40,000 runners competing in the marathon today could fall victim to protests, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak talked tough about cracking down on “selfish and reckless behaviour”. Appropriately enough in this context, we can file that under Greta Thunberg’s dismissive definition of politicians speaking “blah, blah, blah”.

Here’s what needs to happen. While everyone should and does have the right to peaceful protest, one person’s rights cannot trump the rights of others to enjoy a sporting spectacle, works of art or go about their lawful business.

Indulgence of these eco loons ends now and arrests are instant and if you choose to glue your hand to the road, be ready to leave behind some fingerprints when you are nicked.

When convicted of crimes such as wilful obstruction or criminal damage, the minimum term behind bars will be six months with no halving of sentence for good behaviour. Upon a second conviction the term is doubled, at the very minimum.

The Government points to any clampdown needing the Public Order Bill, which is meandering its way through Parliament at the speed of a snail without Sat Nav.

No such bill is needed, the laws are already in place. Let’s see the will to enforce them.

IT’S BECOME as much a part of autumn as conkers and Halloween, but the four celebrities handing out the scores after each routine on Strictly Come Dancing have badly “mis-judged” this one. Reportedly, Anton Du Beke, Shirley Ballas, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood were demanding an 11 per cent pay increase from the BBC, as the rates have been frozen since the pandemic, but now it looks like they’ve settled for less. While they are without doubt a key ingredient of the show, their salaries already range from, in the case of head judge Shirley, £500,000, to £200,000 or £180,000 in the cases of the three others, And that’s for THREE months’ work! Plus, they’re not even called upon to dance, while the professionals who do are paid between £20,000 and £50,000. Most viewers tune in to watch the “journey” of the often clod-hopping celebs so while I give the judges a 10 for cheek, it’s a 0 for a pay rise.

BAIZE OF GLORY: But audience paid good money to see snooker