London Protest Ban Imposed on Just Stop Oil Activists

A prohibition on protesting in London has been imposed on three Just Stop Oil activists. This precedes their upcoming trial concerning allegations of them throwing soup at two Vincent Van Gogh artworks at the National Gallery. Mary Somerville, aged 77, Stephen Simpson, aged 71, and Phillipa Green, aged 24, each face two charges. These charges relate to causing damage to the frames of the paintings “Sunflowers 1889” and “Sunflowers 1888” by applying soup to the artworks. The trio previously appeared at Southwark Crown Court, where they entered pleas of not guilty and were subsequently granted conditional bail. The judge issued an order prohibiting them from engaging in protest activities inside the M25 boundary until their trial commences, which is set for January 2026. Mr. Simpson, residing in Shipley, West Yorkshire, and Ms. Somerville, from Bradford, West Yorkshire, were present in court physically. Ms. Green, who is from Penryn in Cornwall, participated via video link. Raj Chada, their legal representative, contended that the prohibition constituted a “disproportional” infringement upon their right to protest, given that London serves as “the seat of government.” However, Judge Alexander Milne stated: “The application of the defendants’ right to protest is a relative one – and there seems to be a great deal of blurring between the exercise of that right and the commission of criminal offences.” He further added: “This court is not banning them from lawful protest anywhere else in the UK, but I will ban them from participating in any protest within the M25.”