Lucy Fraser tells eco-fanatics ahead of Silverstone and after Wimbledon arrests: Stop upsetting fans … and don’t damage your career
Nearly half a million people will flock to Silverstone to watch the British Grand Prix this weekend.
They will be there to cheer on Lewis Hamilton and his fellow British drivers and witness the spectacle of an incredible wheel-to-wheel race on one of the fastest circuits on the F1 calendar.
Millions more around the world will tune in. Not only will they be watching great sport, but one of the UK’s great exports – the UK is home to 7 of the 10 F1 teams, supports 41,000 jobs and is worth £8.2bn to the economy .
Formula 1 showcases the best of British engineering, innovation and creativity, which is why I’m meeting F1 bosses in Downing Street this week to discuss how we can maximize the potential of this incredible success story.
But like many of my current conversations, ours is overshadowed by the persistent threat of vandalism from radical eco-protesters.
Nearly half a million people will flock to Silverstone this weekend for the British GP
Hear the booing of the Wimbledon crowd as protesters stalk the 18th court. Or listen to Jonny Bairstow’s applause as he walks away a protester at Lord’s Stadium (pictured)
We’ve seen disruptions in Aintree, the Crucible (pictured) and Lord’s.
We’ve seen chaos in Aintree, Crucible and Lorde.
Organizers and police were again on high alert this weekend as crowds gathered in Silverstone, Headingley and Wimbledon.
Let’s be clear about what that means. This is not a brief hiatus to underscore an important cause—the urgent need to combat climate change. That means tens of thousands of pounds spent on extra security checks and longer wait times for checks.
That means police forces divert resources that could be used to fight other crimes.
That means fans worry about whether their favorite sport will be suspended, postponed or worse.
Silverstone Grand Prix. A seat on Center Court. A day of testing for the Lord. For most people, these are once-in-a-lifetime experiences. They shouldn’t allow themselves to be spoiled by attention-seeking publicity stunts.
Fortunately, so far, no one has been injured by these annoying antics.
A “Stop Oil” protester sits on Court 18 on day three of Wimbledon earlier this week
Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle warned this week that trespassing on the British GP track would be life-threatening
But as Silverstone boss Stuart Pringle warned this week, trespassing on the track for the British Grand Prix would be life-threatening. The idea is silly – stepping onto a racing track with a car going 200 mph is clearly dangerous for you, but it also puts drivers, crew and spectators at an unacceptable risk of injury.
But that didn’t stop six reckless protesters from trying last year to force heroic volunteer law enforcement officers to put themselves in danger.
The public is tired of these self-indulgent gimmicks.
Hear the boos of the Wimbledon crowd as protesters stalk the 18th court. Or listen to Jonny Bairstow’s applause as he walks away a protester at Lord’s.
While eco-fanatics seek attention, our government is taking action. We have a fair, realistic, legally binding plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Over the past three decades, our emissions have nearly halved while the economy has grown by 65%.
We’re also taking action to give police more powers to stop riots at major events. Through the Public Order Act 2023, we are criminalizing acts such as ‘locking up’ so police can stop and search protesters when they suspect they are trying to cause chaos, looking for items like padlocks and super glue.
Earlier this week, the Home Secretary and I met with sporting bodies and the police to express our support and make clear our uncompromising toughness against selfish activists intent on disrupting our sporting events.
So I have a simple message to anyone thinking of spoiling these iconic events: think again. Let people enjoy the sport they love without compromising their own careers.