JUST Stop Oil have insisted they “were not responsible” for the protester who threw orange confetti at George Osborne and Thea Rogers shortly after they were married.
The woman ambushed Osborne, 52, and his new bride Rogers, 40, outside the 14th Century St Mary’s Church in the Somerset village of Bruton on Saturday.
She quickly fled smiling after being approached by security.
A number of politicians have condemned the disruption, with reports suggesting the environmental protest group Just Stop Oil was behind the stunt.
The group, who frequently use a bright orange for banners, posters and t-shirts, retweeted a video of the incident saying: “You look good in orange George Osborne — congratulations to the newlyweds.”
This tweet led many to believe, and some outlets to report, that Just Stop Oil were behind what has been referred to as confettigate, but the group denied this categorically on Sunday.
In a lengthy statement, the group wrote: “The lady who threw confetti in Bruton yesterday was upholding a tradition that is common across many cultures.
“We absolutely defend the right for people to throw confetti (of whatever colour) at weddings and other celebrations.
“If it was a form of protest - which is yet to be established - we applaud it and thank the person concerned.
“It was peaceful and not especially disruptive, but got massive media attention for Just Stop Oil’s demand.”
Just Stop Oil said that the stunt also helped the public recall Osborne’s role as one of the main architects of austerity, and said he was personally responsible for “some of the most egregious climate-denying nonsense ever to darken the pages of mainstream mass media” in his previous role as editor of the Evening Standard.
“However, as much as we applaud the use of orange confetti at this wedding, we were not responsible,” the group added.
The protest group suggested the media should focus on “something more important” such as the 100 oil and gas projects set to be signed off by Number 10, or the impact of rising temperatures, wildfires, and damning warnings from the United Nations regarding climate change.
Just Stop Oil continued: “We are in catastrophically dangerous territory and the press have a moral responsibility to inform and educate people as to the causes of the crisis so that we can take action to defend ourselves. In 2023, it is simply criminal not to check your facts.”
Confettigate: A Statement From Just Stop Oil The lady who threw confetti in Bruton yesterday was upholding a tradition that is common across many cultures. We absolutely defend the right for people to throw confetti (of whatever colour) at weddings and other celebrations. If it… pic.twitter.com/e0uRJkV2S6
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) July 9, 2023
Around 200 people, including a string of well-known politicians and journalists, attended the wedding amid a mystery over an email apparently sent to guests.
Among the guests attending were former prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha, former chancellor Sajid Javid and Levelling-Up Secretary Michael Gove.
Also present were Lord Hague and his wife Ffion, former health secretary Matt Hancock, ex-governor of the Bank of England Mark Carney, as well as Labour heavyweight Ed Balls and his wife Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary.
As well as politicians there were a host of well-known journalists.
The orange confetti thrown by the woman appeared to be similar to that scattered by Just Stop Oil protesters at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
