Two Just Stop Oil (JSO) protesters have caused a stir after spray painting the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero headquarters with bright orange paint. Matthew Cunningham, 25, and Imogen May, 24, recorded themselves tagging the building in protest against the UK’s latest oil and gas licences.
Energy Secretary Grant Shapps condemned the stunt as “criminal damage” and referred the matter to the authorities. The protest followed the government’s decision to issue more than 100 new licences for oil and gas extraction, a move that JSO argues is harmful to 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.”
The Metropolitan Police reported that they had to clear JSO protesters from several London locations, including Westminster Bridge, Victoria Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marylebone, and Kensington. The slow-moving demonstrations caused significant disruption throughout the day.
Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands described the protests as “unacceptable,” sharing a photo of supporters blocking Westminster Bridge.
JSO’s videos show Cunningham and May applying orange paint to glass panels while denouncing the government’s climate policies. Cunningham referenced warnings from the Climate Change Committee, stating that current government efforts are insufficient. May criticised the department for failing to address the climate emergency effectively.
Tensions escalated during one march when 21-year-old Oxford student Daniel Knorr, a protester, was assaulted. Video footage showed a man knocking Knorr to the ground before being restrained. Knorr, who previously gained attention when England cricketer Jonny Bairstow lifted him off the pitch at an Ashes test, remained calm following the incident.
“No hard feelings,” Knorr said, acknowledging the anger surrounding the protest.
These clashes highlight the growing conflict between climate activists and the government, emphasising the urgent need for serious climate discussions before the situation deteriorates further.
Originally published by UKNIP.
