‘It was terrifying’: Stop Oil activists on the new battle against fossil fuel

An end to new oil and gas projects remains a key demand, but protesters now want taxes on big polluters and basic energy for all

Four years ago, when Extinction Rebellion started blocking London's roads in a call for climate action, they brought a DIY carnival atmosphere that transformed their protests into festivals of resistance.

On Thursday morning, when climate activists staged road blocks close to Waterloo, just south of the Thames, they were about two dozen grim-faced campaigners, wearing sensible clothes and hi-vis vests, and enduring abuse from passersby as they tried to superglue their hands to wet asphalt.