UK Government offices in Edinburgh covered in paint in protest against Shell gas field

Climate protesters have thrown red paint over the front of the UK Government’s offices in Edinburgh.

The front entrance to Queen Elizabeth House was covered in red paint as activists held up banners saying “Just Stop Oil” and “blood on your hands”.

Earlier on Thursday a demonstration against the Jackdaw gas field had been held outside the building.

The new field in the North Sea has been given final regulatory approval by the UK Government but campaigners said they are considering legal action.

We’re not going anywhere.

Outside the UK Government building in Edinburgh today, our message could not have been more clear: we will fight back, and use every tool we can to delay and eventually stop this field.

📣 Together, we can #StopJackdaw pic.twitter.com/PsWSe8mAdQ
— StopCambo #StopJackdaw (@StopCambo) June 2, 2022

Maciej Walczuk, an activist with Stop Jackdaw, said: “The UK Government is using people’s rising bills as an excuse to allow Shell to continue profiteering from the climate crisis.

“We need investments into insulation and a planned transition away from fossil fuels to tackle the climate crisis, not to increase our dependence on them.”

Jackdaw, which is being developed by an affiliate firm of Shell, is located about 250km east of Aberdeen.

Shell said that the site could produce around 6.5% of the UK’s gas output at its peak.

In a tweet on Wednesday, the UK energy secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said: “Jackdaw gas field – originally licensed in 1970 – has today received final regulatory approval.

“We’re turbocharging renewables and nuclear, but we are also realistic about our energy needs now.

“Let’s source more of the gas we need from British waters to protect energy security.”