London, UK – Police have arrested more than 60 Just Stop Oil supporters outside Parliament as protesters blocked a road in Parliament Square during Andy Burnham’s first Prime Minister’s Questions.

Around 60 people blocked the road, with a significant number glued to the surface. More than 40 others demonstrated from the pavement. The Metropolitan Police began making arrests from the group blocking the road, and all were expected to be arrested. One lane was left free for emergency vehicles.

The protesters demanded that the UK government stop approving all further oil and gas developments and sign a Fossil Fuel Treaty. The action was taken in response 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”.

At noon, when Big Ben struck 12, protesters carrying banners reading “FOR FUCK’S SAKE, JUST STOP OIL” moved onto the road in Parliament Square, blocking Burnham’s first Prime Minister’s Questions.

Within 30 minutes, police officers began carrying the nonviolent protesters into nearby police vans. Supporters stood nearby with banners and placards reading “For Future’s/ Food’s/ Our Children’s Sake, Just Stop Oil!”. Events were still unfolding.

Trish Fitzmaurice, a mother from Norfolk, 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.”

Met Office data indicated that 2026 was the hottest summer in UK recorded history, beating 2025, and was also one of the driest summers on record, delivering record-low food harvests. Rising temperatures triggered devastating wildfires, while national fire chiefs said the wildfire risk “is like nothing we have seen before”.

Sam Burgess, 26, a student from Lancaster, 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.”

The UN reported that the globe is on track for at least 2°C of warming in our lifetime. The German Physics Society and German Meteorological Society have predicted a 3°C average temperature rise, triggering mass global starvation and irreversible flooding of major cities.

Reverend Bill White, 72, a priest from Macclesfield, said: “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!’”

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