Just Stop Oil Activists Slap Orange Paint on Govt HQ in Bold Climate Protest
Two Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters have landed themselves in hot water after spray painting the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero headquarters. Matthew Cunningham, 25, and Imogen May, 24, filmed themselves tagging the building with bright orange paint in a row over the UK’s latest oil and gas licences.
Grant Shapps Condemns ‘Illegal Criminal Damage’
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps slammed the stunt as “criminal damage” and handed the case over to the authorities. The protest comes after the government issued more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction – something JSO say is disastrous for the climate.
“This is illegal vandalism, plain and simple,” Shapps said. “I’m calling on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to cover the costs of the clean-up, especially after dodging condemnation of these reckless actions.”
Police Clear JSO Protests Across London
The Metropolitan Police revealed they had to clear JSO protesters from multiple London hotspots including Westminster Bridge, Victoria Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marylebone, and Kensington. The slow-marching demonstrators caused major disruption throughout the day.
Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands blasted the protests as “unacceptable,” sharing a snap of supporters blocking Westminster Bridge.
Violence, Defiance & Climate Fury on the Streets
JSO’s videos show Cunningham and May dousing glass panels with orange paint, condemning the government’s climate record. Cunningham cited warnings from the Climate Change Committee that current efforts are far from good enough. May criticised the department for failing its core mission to tackle the climate emergency.
However, tensions boiled over when a protester, 21-year-old Oxford student Daniel Knorr, was assaulted during one march. Footage caught a man knocking Knorr to the ground before being restrained. Knorr, who once made headlines after England cricketer Jonny Bairstow lifted him off the pitch at an Ashes test, showed remarkable calm. “No hard feelings,” he said, understanding the anger surrounding the protest.
The clashes underline the escalating battle between climate activists and the government, spotlighting the urgent need for serious climate talks before things get worse.
