Just Stop Oil: Protesters block The Mall in central London in protest against fossil fuel licences

Campaigners from Just Stop Oil during a protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London. Activists have been blocking roads in central London since the start of October as part of their campaign to stop future gas and oil projects from going ahead. Picture date: Monday October 10, 2022.
Campaigners from Just Stop Oil during a protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace, London Credit: PA

Environmental protesters blocked The Mall outside Buckingham Palace in a demonstration against new fossil fuel licences. Around two dozen activists in high-visibility orange vests sat in the road holding Just Stop Oil banners on Monday morning. The protesters, who travelled from Scotland, said they felt the need to act after the UK Government gave its backing in September to an expansion of oil and gas operations in the North Sea. The North Sea Transition Authority is expected to undertake a new round of oil and gas licensing this month. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said that could lead to more than 100 new licences being granted, which he claimed could “safeguard” UK energy supplies and support more than 70,000 jobs in Scotland.

Police officers remove a campaigner from a Just Stop Oil protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace Credit: PA

But Emma Brown, who was among the demonstrators in London on a rainy morning, described the new licences as “a death sentence for all of us here”. The 31-year-old, who lives in Glasgow and was attending her first such protest, made a reference to the well-known Proclaimers hit when she said that the activists “would walk 500 miles” to “just stop oil”.

'Literally a death sentence'

She said: “We’ve come down because the Government is pressing ahead with over 100 new fossil fuel licences. “And that is literally a death sentence for all of us here and for all of you. “So we can’t allow this to continue. We have to have a cut-off somewhere. “We’ve seen the effects already on our doorstep. We’re seeing the effects all over the globe. And this madness has to stop.”

Campaigners from Just Stop Oil during a protest on The Mall, near Buckingham Palace Credit: PA

A man on a bicycle gave words of support, telling them: “Go on the protesters, you’re doing great work. Stay strong.” Asked by one police officer how long they intended to stay at the scene, a protester replied: “Until we get a new government.” A police liaison officer said: “Let me know if I can I do anything for you.” The protester replied: “Not unless you have a letter from Liz Truss.” Officers searched the protesters, some of whom had glued their hands together. Police told the demonstrators that they intended to clear the road for the changing of the guard on Monday morning. While some protesters left of their own volition at around 10am and were taken to a police van, others were physically lifted by officers to different vans. An officer at the scene confirmed that some had been arrested.