Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer were united in condemnation of Just Stop Oil after activists targeted Stonehenge with orange powder paint.
The Prime Minister described it as a “disgraceful act of vandalism” while the Labour leader branded the group “pathetic”.
Members tried to intervene, struggling with the campaigners – named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21 – as they ran up to the ancient monument on Wednesday.
BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Spray Stonehenge Orange
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 19, 2024
2 people took action the day before Summer Solstice, demanding the incoming government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
Help us take megalithic action — https://t.co/R20S8YQD1j pic.twitter.com/ufzO8ZiDWu
Video footage posted on social media showed two people wearing white shirts with the slogan Just Stop Oil, approaching the stone circle with canisters and spraying orange powder paint.
Mr Sunak said: “This is a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments.”
In a reference to green energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, Mr Sunak added: “Just Stop Oil should be ashamed of their activists, and they and anyone associated with them, including a certain Labour Party donor, should issue a condemnation of this shameful act immediately.”
Sir Keir said: “The damage done to Stonehenge is outrageous. Just Stop Oil are pathetic.
“Those responsible must face the full force of the law.”
Wiltshire Police said officers had attended the scene and arrested two people.
