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. [1] [2]
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. The Metropolitan Police have begun to make arrests from the group blocking the road. It’s expected that all will be arrested. One lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles.
Today’s drastic actions have been taken in resistance to the possibility raised by Andy Burnham of drilling more oil and gas from the North Sea, despite it doing “nothing to lower UK energy bills or strengthen energy security”. Holding banners which read ‘FOR FUCK’S SAKE, JUST STOP OIL’, the action takers took to the road in Parliament Square at the strike of 12 from Big Ben. They are blocking Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister’s Questions. [3]
Trish Fitzmaurice, a mother from Norfolk, is one of those arrested on the road today. She 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.”
Within 30 minutes, police officers were on the scene and began to make arrests, carrying the nonviolent action takers into nearby police vans. At the same time, a crowd of supporters stood nearby, holding banners and placards which altnerately read ‘For Future’s/ Food’s/ Our Children’s Sake, Just Stop Oil!’. Events are still unfolding.
Data from the Met Office indicates that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025 which was the previous hottest summer on record. 2026 was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests. Climbing temperatures have triggered devastating wildfires across the country. National fire chiefs said the wildfire risk facing the UK ”is like nothing we have seen before”. [4] [5] [6]
Sam Burgess, 26, a student from Lancaster is one of those on the road today. She said:
“More oil is a death sentence: the unprecedented heatwaves killed over 35,000 extra people in Europe this summer. I’m not going to sit by and wait for this figure to include someone I love. The government must start protecting its citizens and Just Stop Oil.”
A recent viral article in the Metro asked “Where have all the climate activists gone?”, in light of the deadly droughts, wildfires, and heatwaves which have been pummelling the UK and Europe. Answering its own question, it concluded that direct action campaigns like Just Stop Oil were successful in their goals. Indeed, Just Stop Oil’s call for the end of new oil and gas licensing was met. However, with Andy Burnham and Miattah Fanbulleh potentially flaking on their commitments to climate action now in power, the urgency of climate catastrophe is still pressing, making it essential that all oil and gas extraction is ended. [7]
The imminent 2°C minimum of warming predicted today by the UN would create global weather system collapse, triggering never-before-seen droughts, wildfires, and floods in every inhabited continent. Going further, The German Physics Society and the German Meteorological Society have predicted a 3°C average temperature rise, triggering mass global starvation and irreversible flooding of major cities. [8] [9]
As action taker Reverend Bill White, 72, a priest from Macclesfield, said today:
“Over 80% of people want the government to take more action. It’s time for us all to say ‘For God’s sake, Just Stop Oil!’”
A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said today:
“We are all Just Stop Oil. Every single person who fears deadly wildfires, devastating droughts, and spiralling food shortages is Just Stop Oil. The first duty of government is to keep the public safe – but by greenlighting oil and gas drilling, they endanger our survival while corporates and billionaires laugh their way to the bank”
“Every one of us feels alone and powerless in the face of this insanity but we know there is massive political and public support for our demand. So we’re inviting everyone to join us at an online call on 3rd October 2026 – because it’s when we work together that we are powerful and win. Sign up at www.juststopoil.org”. [7]
In 2024 Just Stop Oil successfully won its original demand of ‘no new oil and gas’. But we all know that it’s not enough. We need to end all fossil fuels completely to have any hope of heading off the horror that our heating world will bring. With fascist and authoritarian forces on the rise everywhere, our democracy is under threat. We are all Just Stop Oil now – what will you do?
💬 Register to join the online call on 3rd October 2026:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/UXLrTRshRv60LYDn7naUxg
ENDS
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Notes to Editors
[1] Just Stop Oil is committed to nonviolent direct action to resist the destruction of our communities as a result of climate breakdown. We do not consent to plans that will result in 3C of warming and mass death.
We demand the UK government stops approving all further oil and gas developments and signs a Fossil Fuel Treaty to Just Stop Oil.
Our government must work with other governments to end the extraction and burning of all oil, gas and coal for good.
Just Stop Oil is a member of the A22 Network of civil resistance projects.
Just Stop Oil ‘Blue Lights’ policy: our policy is, and has always been, to move out of the way for emergency vehicles with siren sounding and ‘blue lights’ on.
We take all possible steps to ensure that no-one’s safety is compromised by our actions.
[3] https://www.upliftuk.org/post/rosebank-oil-field-the-complete-guide
[5] https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/uk-harvest-even-worse-than-previously-thought-new-data
[7] https://metro.co.uk/2026/08/12/keep-heatwaves-climate-activists-gone-29361742/
[8] https://wedocs.unep.org/items/156d074c-ab1d-4833-acf8-6343589ede9b