Traffic around Parliament was brought to a halt on Tuesday as about 30 protesters from the environmental group Just Stop Oil staged a demonstration during Andy Burnham’s first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions. The activists sat and lay on the road in Parliament Square, with some gluing their hands to the tarmac to prevent police from moving them.

The disruption forced several buses to be taken out of service and parked nearby as police vans blocked the road to contain the protest. Officers arrived shortly after noon and arrested several demonstrators, while others held placards and watched the events from behind barriers.

Just Stop Oil spokesperson Cameron Ford said the group aimed to warn the new Prime Minister against supporting further oil and gas development projects. The protest was timed to coincide with Burnham’s debut session at PMQs, highlighting the group’s call for urgent climate action during a period of energy and environmental policy discussion.

Authorities managed to maintain order, but the protest caused significant disruption to public transport and traffic flow in the area for several hours. The group has staged similar actions in the past to pressure the government on climate issues, indicating ongoing activism around fossil fuel policies.