Chris Packham comments sees charities reported to watchdog by MP

BBC presenter Chris Packham's recent remarks about Barclays Bank have seen two animal charities reported to the watchdog by an MP.

Greg Smith MP reported the RSPCA, as well as the RSPB, to the Charity Commission following a speech by Packham earlier this month at the Action for Wildlife Day event in Derbyshire, in which he said that anyone who banked with Barclays should “stick your head in a bucket of fuel and set fire to it”.

Packham is vice-president of both organisations and Smith also wrote to the heads of the individual charities demanding they “consider” his position.

In separate letters addressed to the RSPCA’s Chris Sherwood and the RSPB’s Beccy Speight, he claimed Packham’s words were a “deeply damaging contribution to the degradation of public discourse”, particularly in the context of recent riots and disorder.

Mr Smith said that both charities should consider whether Packham is a “fit and proper person” to remain in the roles he holds. His letters went on to say: “In recent weeks, the use of intemperate and inflammatory language has led directly to grave instances of violent public disorder. Had Mr Packham’s comments been made during that time in the context of a debate about immigration, it is likely that he would have been subject to arrest,” he pointed out.

Packham was not speaking in his capacity as president or vice-president of the charities when he made the remarks however Mr Smith advised they should publicly “condemn” them.

Express.co.uk has contacted Chris Packham for comment.

When contacted a spokesperson for the RSPCA said: "Chris Packham is a much loved and a well respected voice for all animals who speaks to a wide range of society and we are proud to have him as our president.

"Chris is passionate about changing the world but words are important, and we don’t condone the comments he made at the Action for Wildlife event. While we don’t always agree on everything, we share his desire to create a better world for all animals.”

An RSPB spokesperson commented: “Chris Packham is one of the RSPB’s Vice Presidents and does endless work to help support many of our campaigns and issues, both through his broadcast work and on his own channels.

"While he is aligned to our charitable objectives, he also has his own views and opinions on many issues within the conservation sector and beyond, some of which, we as a charity would not necessarily agree with but would not restrict him expressing.”

The Countryside Alliance also issued a comment about the remarks. Spokesperson David Bean said: "Mr Packham’s most recent comments are the latest in an escalating series of bizarre histrionics that he has shown no willingness to control.

“The charities that have closely associated with him ought to consider carefully how many lines they can stand by and watch him cross. If they want to avoid the public concluding that they approve of his behaviour, silence is untenable.”

Video footage from the event which is available online on Fieldsports Channel shows Packham making the imapssioned speech.

"If anyone here is banking with Barclay's then I suggest you stick your head in a bucket of fuel and set fire to it," he says.

"Because you;re buring our planet down and it is time to put this stuff behind us," he continues as people applaud.