Just Stop Oil has always stood for a vision that extends far beyond the climate crisis. At its heart, it has been a campaign for justice and hope, striving for a society free from prejudice, discrimination, and abuse. It is therefore with profound regret and anger that we must address a grave failure within our own ranks.
We are writing to share deeply troubling allegations of abuse carried out by two individuals previously employed by our campaign.
Beginning in 2022, two men are alleged to have systematically targeted and abused young female staff and volunteers. Our HR team has compiled a list of serious accusations from multiple women, which include grooming, coercion, sexual assault, and rape.
In confronting this, we must acknowledge our own institutional failure. It is now clear that multiple warning signs were missed. Our well-intentioned culture of radical trust proved inadequate, and in its place, a toxic culture of shame and silence was allowed to develop—one that protected the abusers, not the victims.
We know that this admission comes too late for many. It is with a deep, burning anger that we recognise how incredible female talent was driven from our campaign as a result of the actions of these two individuals. Unfortunately, they may not be alone.
For those reading this, you may have faced abuse from others not named here. You are right to question why only two names are mentioned. Please understand that this public statement is an extraordinary step. We are taking it because we believe abuse is ongoing and individuals within our community remain at risk. Should you believe further action is needed regarding other people involved with the campaign, we urge you to get in touch. We have implemented structural changes to ensure victims are heard, and our HR team now has our full trust and backing.
We are acutely aware that only 2% of reported rapes result in a conviction, and understandably, many in our community have limited trust in the police. This statistic places a profound responsibility on all of us to step up and protect one another. The reality is that there may never be a trial or a legal conviction for these allegations. We can only ever report on the accusations that have been bravely brought to us.
Make no mistake: the fact that multiple courageous young women have come forward to name these men as manipulative and abusive misogynists capable of sexual assault and rape is, in itself, a call for immediate action. They are now excluded from all Just Stop Oil circles, and we warn other campaigns to do the same.
Going forward, our next campaigns will enforce a zero-tolerance policy towards misogyny and abuse. Anyone facing serious accusations will be excluded. We will not gamble with the welfare of those ready to stand up and shape a better future.
We recognise that this news will be deeply troubling for everyone who supports our cause. Please understand that we felt a moral obligation to share this information. If you are in need of immediate support, help is available from Rape Crisis England & Wales online and on the phone here: https://rapecrisis.org.uk/get-help/want-to-talk/
As we look ahead, we are committed to learning from these devastating mistakes. It is with a sense of sober pride that we look at the team building our next campaign—a steering group led by a majority of brave, intelligent women. There will be no room for abusers in the future we are building.
