Just Stop Oil are back: Up to 60 activists are arrested for blocking road outside Parliament as Andy Burnham makes his PMQs debut
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.
In short
- Just Stop Oil resumed protests, blocking Parliament Square on 2 September 2026
- About 60 arrested amid fears of new North Sea drilling approvals
- Protest coincided with Andy Burnham's first PMQs as PM
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The case for
Supporters can argue that disruptive protest is justified when the risks of climate change are severe and ordinary appeals seem easy for leaders to ignore. By returning as the government considers possible new North Sea drilling, activists aim to make the consequences of that choice politically visible and press for a faster shift away from fossil fuels.
The case against
Critics can argue that blocking a major road imposes costs on the public, including people with urgent journeys, while requiring substantial police resources to clear it. They may also contend that mass arrests and highly disruptive stunts alienate potential supporters and make climate policy harder to build through democratic debate.
Explained simply
Just Stop Oil is a climate protest group known for disruptive actions, including demonstrations at major sporting and cultural events. It said it had disbanded in 2025 after the government agreed to end new oil and gas licences.
The group campaigns against fossil fuel extraction, including drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea. The government decides whether to allow new licences, while energy companies carry out exploration and production; climate scientists warn that burning fossil fuels contributes to global warming.
The Metropolitan Police is responsible for policing protests in London and can arrest people suspected of offences. Just Stop Oil’s earlier campaign involved thousands of arrests and substantial policing costs, making the balance between protest, public disruption and law enforcement part of the wider debate.