‘This my show’: Piers clashes with protester

During Wednesday’s episode of Piers Morgan Uncensored, available to stream on Flash, the Sky News host invited Just Stop Oil protester James Skeet after emergency vehicles got caught up in their blockade.

The climate campaign group had spent days demonstrating in London, blocking roads from shops and restaurants.

A fire engine and an ambulance were briefly caught up in their blockade on Wednesday, prompting the British government to say this kind of protest “isn’t acceptable.”

Stream Piers Morgan Uncensored first on Flash, Tuesday to Saturday. Flash gives you 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends October 31, 2022 >

“At what point, when you’re blocking fire engines and ambulances, are you concerned about lives being lost by what you’re doing?” Morgan asked the advocate.

“Well the whole reason we’re doing this is because we’re concerned about lives being lost and,” Skeet replied.

“But you get the irony that if you’re actually stopping ambulances and fire engines going to save people’s lives, they may actually die because of your protest?” The broadcaster cut in.

The Eco warrior clapped back.

“Well actually, we have a blue light policy, we let through every emergency vehicle,” he said.

“You didn’t though, did you?” Morgan interjected before his guest argued: “If you actually care to run the whole footage there, you’d see that ambulance is advised by one of our people to avoid the roadblock…”

Fellow Uncensored guest leader of Reform UK Richard Tice stepped in and snapped at Skeet: “The sensible thing to do is just to get out of the way!”

He continued: “You have absolutely no right to obstruct other people’s daily lives.

“You have a right to protest on the side of the street, but you are unlawfully in the middle of the street.

“It’s utterly outrageous, it’s selfish and you’re putting people’s lives at risk!”

The protester said he appreciates Tice’s frustration and understands.

“But look, we’re demanding that the government halt any new licensing for any fossil fuel expense in the UK, you know that needs to happen, I know it needs to happen,” Skeet said.

“It doesn’t need to happen!” Tice commented. “We need fossil fuels.

“There are billions of people living on this planet living longer, happier, healthier lives because of cheap energy from fossil fuels.”

“You can’t get cheaper than free, alright?” the activist hit back. “Okay, renewables are nine times cheaper than fossil fuels.”

“Renewables are not free, we spend £15 billion ($AUD26.7 billion) subsidising renewables in this country!” Tice added.

As Morgan tried to speak, Skeet went on: “We spent £236 million ($AUD421 million) a week subsidising…”

It was at that point that the TV presenter called a time out but the demonstrator continued to argue his case.

“What you’re saying is a lie!” Skeet remarked to Tice before turning back to the journalist.

“Just to bring you back…” Morgan said. “It is actually my show and I’m doing the interview with you.

“Although, well jumped in, Mr Tice, and by the way, he’s not frustrated, he’s furious.

“My question remains though, with you, where is your moral line with this?

“You say you want to save lives yet your actions are bordering on potentially costing lives – you cannot get in the way of emergency services in the way that you’re doing.

“And if you do want to, explain the moral difference between what you’re doing and what you complain everyone’s doing about the planet?”

Skeet went on to ask why we are concentrating on “such a small bit of disruption.” Morgan replied “you have no idea the damage you’re doing when you get in the way of emergency services.”

This is not the first time Skeet has locked horns with a TV presenter.

Back in July, the eco warrior appeared on the UK program Good Morning Britain where he clashed stand-in host Ed Balls after wildly accusing the government of genocide.

The activist tried to defend the group after members stormed Silverstone’s race track while the British Grand Prix was in full flow.

The protesters were widely criticised for putting their own lives, as well as those of the Formula One drivers, at risk.

But spokesman Skeet dismissed criticism and tried to say such extreme measures were justified.

In a heated exchange, Skeet stunned Balls by saying the government was “engaged in a project of killing the UK population.”

“It’s genocidal. At the moment the government is ploughing £236 million ($AUD421 million) a week of taxpayers’ money, subsidising the most profitable industry on earth,” he said.

“The chief executive of BP says he’s got more money than he knows what to do with. Now stick that on a bus.”

– With The Sun