Just Stop Oil resumed its campaign against new oil and gas licenses with a protest in Parliament Square, London, nearly a year and a half after declaring an end to its disruptive demonstrations. About 30 activists gathered in the road on Wednesday, coinciding with Andy Burnham’s first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions.

The protest led to significant disruption as buses were taken out of service and parked along the street, while police vans blocked access to the area. Metropolitan Police officers engaged with the group, removing several protesters from the road and making arrests shortly after midday.

Just Stop Oil gained attention for its high-profile actions in recent years, including blocking roads in central London and throwing soup on Vincent van Gogh’s "Sunflowers" painting. The group had previously claimed that their campaign goals had been met during their last protest in April 2025.

The timing of the protest also intersected with remarks from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who addressed the House of Commons regarding future energy policy. Sunak stated he was "deciding whether to have more oil and gas projects" and has shown openness to accelerating oil and gas production to aid Britain’s transition to clean energy sources. This position contrasts with that of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, whose policy has been to halt the issuance of new exploration licenses in the North Sea while upholding existing contracts.

One of the arrested protesters, Trish Fitzmaurice, a mother from Norfolk, appealed directly to Andy Burnham, saying, “We are crying out for leadership,” underscoring the continued urgency felt by activists pushing for changes in energy policy.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed their involvement and removal of some protesters from the road but did not provide specific numbers regarding arrests. The renewed activity by Just Stop Oil highlights ongoing tensions in the UK over balancing energy needs and environmental commitments amid evolving government strategies.