A JUST Stop Oil protester furiously clashed with stand-in GMB host Ed Balls today after accusing the government of genocide.
Eco warrior James Skeet, 34, defended the group after members stormed onto Silverstone race track yesterday 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 James insisted such extreme measures are necessary to make the government take note and introduce tougher climate change policies.
In a heated exchange, James claimed the government was "engaged in a project of killing the UK population."
He said: "It's genocidal. At the moment the government is ploughing £236million a week of taxpayers' money, subsidising the most profitable industry on earth. The chief executive of BP says he's got more money than he knows what to do with. Now stick that on a bus."
Former MP Ed responded: "I know what genocide means, and the one thing you can't claim is that investing in North Sea oil is genocidal. That undermines your case.
Do you understand the consequences of what happens when we burn that oil? This is not some hypothetical. It's happening now. How many people have to die before you take this seriously?
After the race, Lewis Hamilton, who finished third, said of the intrusion: "I love that people are fighting for the planet and we need more people like them."
His Mercedes team, who is sponsored by oil giant Petronas, later issued a more nuanced statement.
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They said: "Lewis was endorsing their right to protest but not the method that they chose, which compromised their safety and that of others."
Ferrari driver and race winner Carlos Sainz said: "People obviously need to speak out and do manifestations wherever they want because it’s a right.
"I just don’t believe jumping into a Formula One track is the best way to do it and putting yourself at risk and all the other drivers."
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