A Labour MP has refused to condemn Just Stop Oil protesters blocking streets outside Parliament, insisting peaceful protest is “something that we should encourage”.
Speaking to GB News, Graeme Downie defended the 60-some demonstrators holding up traffic in central London as Andy Burnham led his first Prime Minister’s Questions.
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Despite announcing they were disbanding in April 2025, Just Stop Oil wrote on social media that they “are back”.
“Oil and gas projects are a death sentence. The Government must sign a fossil fuel treaty,” the controversial activist group said.
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Born out of Extinction Rebellion, Just Stop Oil became infamous for causing major disruption to public services and damaging priceless art.
While Mr Downie admitted he disagreed with “a lot” of what Just Stop Oil stood for, he defended their right to demonstrate.
“A peaceful protest is something that we should encourage in the United Kingdom, whether I agree with them or not.”
“I think that’s actually something I think a lot of your viewers would support as well.”
Mr Downie said there was “a time and a place for a peaceful protest” and argued the demonstrators should currently be allowed to continue.
“This seems to be something that they should be allowed to do for the moment,” he said.
The Labour MP acknowledged that police could eventually decide the protesters had gone too far and needed to be moved on.
“I’m sure there will come a point where the police will say, at that point has passed and it’s time to move on,” he said.
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However, he insisted such protests should be allowed to go ahead.
Mr Downie said: “I do disagree with a lot of what the protesters are saying, but I do think that we should always listen and always allow peaceful protest in the UK.”
Reflecting on the activist group’s wider campaign against fossil fuels, Mr Downie said the issue was “complicated”.
He argued Britain needed to reduce its use of fossil fuels while continuing to rely on oil and gas “for the foreseeable future”.
The Labour MP said it was important that those supplies came from “UK communities and UK supply” as Britain works towards a “more low-carbon economy”.
The Metropolitan Police arrested 47 people on suspicion of public order offences following today’s protest.
In a press release, Just Stop Oil said “60 people are blocking the road on Parliament Square, with a significant number glued on”.
“One lane has been left free of glued-on action takers to permit access for emergency vehicles,” the group added.
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