Eco-campaigners Just Stop Oil are back after launching a protest outside Parliament as Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his PMQs debut.
The group, which said in March 2025 it was shutting down the group after the government agreed to its demand for an end to new oil and gas licences, blocked traffic in Parliament Square on Wednesday lunchtime.
Officers from the Met Police responded and began arresting the group of around 60 activists after they sat in the road.
Just Stop Oil said ‘a significant number’ of activists had glued themselves to the tarmac.
Activists held the group’s large signature banners while wearing orange high-vis vests.
The group became one of the most-loathed protest movements after a slew of actions saw them shut down roads across the south of England and performed stunts at high-profile locations.
They closed the Dartford Bridge, nearly caused a terrifying accident by trespassing at Silverstone, desecrated Stonehenge and threw tomato soup over a priceless Van Gogh.
Activists also disrupted multiple sports events including cricket at Lord’s and unfurled banners on stage at West End productions such as Les Misérables.
Eco-campaign group Just Stop Oil are back after launching a protest outside Parliament as Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his PMQs debut
A protester wears a gas mask and holds a sign reading ‘no oil, no gas’ outside Parliament on Wednesday
JSO said a number of activists had glued themselves to the road outside Parliament
Policing the stunts cost the Met almost £20million in 2023 alone as protests forced money to be piled into bringing in more manpower.
Their campaign saw 3,300 arrested and 180 jailed, with the number of detentions rising for the first time today in more than a year.
A spokesperson for the Met Police said: ‘Police were called at 12:04hrs on Wednesday, 2 September following reports of disruption on Parliament Square.
‘Officers are currently on scene and continue to engage with a group of people, believed to be Just Stop Oil supporters.
‘Specialist officers have been deployed, and some members of the group have been removed from the road.
‘We are working closely with partners including TfL to reduce disruption in the area for Londoners.’
JSO had stood down after it said the government had capitulated to its demand to stop the issuing of new oil and gas licences.
Today, the group said it had restarted protests after it was rumoured Prime Minister Andy Burnham could agree to new drilling in the North Sea.
Just Stop Oil activists are removed by police outside the Houses of Parliament in central London on Wednesday
The group became one of the most-loathed protest movements after a slew of actions saw them shut down roads across the south of England, including all over London
A protester is surrounded by police officers outside the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday
An activist holds a sign during a protest by Just Stop Oil on Wednesday in central London
It said in a statement: ‘Police are currently arresting over 60 Just Stop Oil supporters outside Parliament, on the same day the UN has reported that the globe is on track for at least 2°C warming in our lifetime.
‘The action takers today are demanding that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments, and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty to Just Stop Oil.
’60 people are blocking the road on Parliament Square, with a significant number glued on. There are a further 40+ people demonstrating in support from the pavement.’
It added it had left one lane of traffic without any protesters ‘glued-on’ to allow the passage of emergency service vehicles.
Trish Fitzmaurice, a mother from Norfolk participating in the protest, said: ‘Andy Burnham, we are crying out for leadership! The climate crisis is the biggest threat humanity has ever faced.
‘We are destroying our only home by burning fossil fuels. Oil and gas mean death.’
It is unclear if JSO intends to return to regular protests under the Burnham government.
The group points to the climate crisis and highlighted a UN warning issued today that the world is hurtling past the targeted 1.5C temperature rise attributed to global warming.
Recent years have seen an increase in disaster-level climate events which scientists say are linked to global warming.
The Met Police has been contacted for comment.
