Oil activist disrupts Exeter graduation ceremony

But he collected his degree first

An anti-oil activist disrupted his own graduation ceremony at Exeter University, but not before picking up his degree.

Wrapped in the natural guise of a graduating student, an academic gown with mortar board atop, mature student Eddie Whittingham sprayed orange paint from a fire extinguisher before being bustled away by security.

Earlier this year, Mr Whittingham was arrested after he jumped onto a snooker table at the world championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

Exeter University has been asked whether he was disciplined following that attack, and whether they took any mitigating action to prevent him disrupting a key event in the academic calendar in front of students and parents.

Ahead of his student protest, Mr Whittingham became a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy, politics and economics, which at Exeter University is a three-year degree costing £27,750.

The tortured face of angry street protest (image courtesy: Just Stop Oil)

In a prepared statement before spoiling the end-of-year event, he said "I’m taking these actions because our government has failed young people like me.”

“They have failed to cut greenhouse gas emissions in line with science. They have failed to prepare us for the inevitable disruption that they have caused. They’re driving our society towards collapse by continuing to allow new oil, gas and coal."

He continued: "We face a future of mass-starvation and unimaginable suffering, including here in the UK. And all of this is happening so a small handful of extremely rich people can carry on getting even richer.”

Devon and Cornwall Police said they went to the university campus "following reports of a male spraying paint on a pavement, believed to be part of a protest. Officers arrived at the scene and arrested a male on suspicion of assault and criminal damage. A woman was arrested on suspicion of breach of bail relating to a separate incident.?

Just Stop Oil confirmed Mr Whittingham was one of those arrested.

One student later said: "Now we know there really is a Dick Whittingham."