Just Stop Oil activists returned to direct action on 2 September 2026, blocking Parliament Square as Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his first appearance at PMQs. The group had declared itself disbanded in March 2025 after the government agreed to end new oil and gas licences, but it resumed protests amid reports Burnham could approve fresh North Sea drilling, framing the move as leadership crying out to be heard on the climate crisis.

Around 60 activists sat in the road, with many gluing themselves to the tarmac while roughly 40 more demonstrated from the pavement; one traffic lane was left clear for emergency vehicles. The Metropolitan Police made mass arrests after being called shortly after noon, deploying specialist officers to remove protesters. Just Stop Oil's earlier campaign, which included stunts at Stonehenge, Silverstone and Lord's, cost the Met almost £20 million to police in 2023 alone and led to 3,300 arrests and 180 jailings; Wednesday marked the first rise in detentions in over a year. The group cited a UN warning that the world is on track for at least 2°C of warming.