Sir Keir Starmer held secret talks with Just Stop Oil donor days before revealing plan to bin new oil licences

SIR Keir Starmer held secret talks with Just Stop Oil’s bankroller days before revealing his plan to bin new oil and gas licences.

Ecotricity founder Dale Vince, who has donated £1.5million to the Labour party, said he spoke with Labour’s boss last week.

And Mr Vince repeated his support for the eco-protest group, which is causing mayhem on the streets, saying: “People have to stand up and do something.”

He told the BBC he spoke to Sir Keir “on the phone”, but they did not discuss Just Stop Oil.

And he vowed never to ditch his support for the radical group, even if Sir Keir wanted him to.

He even offered to double the donation of anyone who gives money to Just Stop Oil in the next 48 hours.

Mr Vince said there was nothing wrong with bankrolling both Just Stop Oil — which wants a ban on new oil and gas licences in the North Sea — and the Labour Party, which is set to formally adopt the policy.

Tory Chairman Greg Hands said: “The plot thickens on Just Stop Oil’s links to Labour, and to Sir Keir Starmer personally.

“Sir Keir must come clean over his secret meetings and whether he finally agreed to back them after huge cash donations.”

Mr Vince insisted the row over his links with Just Stop Oil was a “fuss about nothing”.

He told the BBC: “I’m not dodgy. It’s all tax-paid. I am completely transparent.”

The Met Police has spent £3.5million on dealing with Just Stop Oil protests in the past month.