Just Stop Oil protestors block Gatwick Airport gates

Kate Bramfitt, a teacher and climate action campaigner, took part in a peaceful protest.

Protestors entered Gatwick's South Terminal and 'used suitcases with lock-on devices to block the departure gates', Just Stop Oil claimed.

The group at Gatwick Airport (Image: Just Stop Oil)

A video shared by the group showed them sitting on the floor inside the airport, blocking an entrance.

Banners were laid out before them which said 'Just Stop Oil', 'Oil Kills' and 'Sign The Treaty'.

Sussex Police said eight people had been arrested 'on suspicion of interfering with public infrastructure' over the incident.

A spokesperson said: "Police responded to a report that protesters were demonstrating near the security entrance at the South Terminal in Gatwick Airport at around 8am on July 29.

"Eight people were arrested on suspicion of interfering with public infrastructure.

"They were bailed, pending further investigation."

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Ms Bramfitt said she was prepared to go to prison as part of a 'civil resistance movement'.

"Time is running out to preserve a safe, habitable world for our kids," the mother-of-two said.

"I was really dreading being locked up but I am willing to go to prison as part of a civil resistance movement like the suffragettes and the civil rights activists in America.

"History shows us the rights we take for granted now were gained through civil resistance. I would not have been able to vote in the general election four weeks ago without women like the suffragette Emily Wilding Davison from Morpeth taking part in protest."

Ms Bramfitt said those involved in the Just Stop Oil protest on Monday were 'decent people trying to protect everyone and the nature we all depend on from climate breakdown'.

She explained they were not targeting plane passengers, but instead were taking 'non-violent' collective action at airports because they contribute significantly to the fossil fuel economy. 

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “We recognise the democratic right of people to peacefully express their views, but obviously they should do so within the bounds of the law.

“And clearly being seen to significantly disrupt people’s summer holidays is no way of winning people around to your cause.”

Ms Bramfitt added: "Normally, disrupting family holidays would be unacceptable but everyone can see we are living in times of climate breakdown: farmers in Northumberland unable to plant crops because the ground was so wet; schools closed because of flash floods, higher mortality rates due extreme heat, insects and wildlife disappearing from everyday life."