An Extinction Rebellion activist wearing a ‘Boris Johnson’ blond wig who climbed the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben has been brought to the ground and arrested. Tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, evaded police officers who patrol the Parliamentary estate and began a daring freeclimb of the structure shortly before 4pm – but was stopped just before 7pm. Police officers used a lift attached to the scaffolding to bring the protester to the ground and at least six people were seen accompanying him to his descent. As the lift reached the floor a group of supporters cheered from behind a fence surrounding the Palace of Westminster. Sporting a jacket and tie over a vivid green t-shirt and a pair of leggings, Mr Atkinson, who also runs a cabin and yurt rental business, climbed approximately sixty to eighty feet up the structure and walked out along a scaffold gantry at the height of the roof of the Palace of Westminster which abuts the clock tower.Once at the edge of the scaffolding he unfurled a rainbow-coloured XR banner, with the words ‘No pride on a dead planet’ while the other said ‘Citizens Assembly’. Extinction Rebellion environmental activist Ben Atkinson leaves Parliament under arrest after free climbing the Big Ben clock tower and dropping banners Police officers used a lift attached to the scaffolding to bring the protester to the ground and at least six people were seen accompanying him to his descent Ben Atkinson is watched by police officers after climbing scaffolding on Big Ben at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster An Extinction Rebellion activist wearing a ‘Boris Johnson’ blond wig climbed the scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben and unfurled two bannersPictured: Ben Atkinson detained by police after climbing Westminster Tower to display an Extinction Rebellion banner Mr Atkinson leaves Parliament under arrest after free climbing the Big Ben clock tower and dropping banners to highlight political inactivity on the climate and ecological crisisSeveral emergency vehicles including two police vans and two ambulances were waiting in the grounds of the palace.Pedestrian and cycle access to the road near Big Ben was then reopened to the public. EXTINCTION REBELLION’S THREE DEMANDS 1. ‘TELL THE TRUTH’XR say the Government must ‘tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency’ and work with other institutions to ‘communicate the urgency for change’ 2. ‘ACT NOW’Protesters say Government must ‘act now to halt biodiversity loss’ and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.3. ‘BEYOND POLITICS’XR say Government must ‘create and be led by the decisions of a Citizens’ Assembly on climate and ecological justice.’ Mr Atkinson was led into a van by two police officers while still wearing his Boris Johnson-style wig. As he was driven away, he waved to cheering supporters before blowing a kiss shortly before the van left the property.Metropolitan Police Westminster said in a statement: ‘Police were called at 15:33hrs on Friday, 18 October to reports of a man climbing up scaffolding surrounding Big Ben. Officers from the Met’s rope team were on scene. ‘At approx. 18:45hrs the man, aged in his 40s, was arrested under Section 128 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 – trespass on a protected site.’He has been taken into custody.’According to the act, the charge carries a maximum sentence of 51 weeks’ imprisonment or an unlimited fine. It comes as the Metropolitan Police said conditions imposed on Extinction Rebellion protesters, which barred an assembly of more than two people linked to its Autumn Uprising action in the capital, have been lifted.The group has a pending legal challenge against the order, which many of its activists defied, and the case is expected to be heard on Thursday next week.The force tweeted: ‘Following review, there is no longer a necessity for the conditions upon the Extinction Rebellion Autumn Uprising assembly; they are no longer in place.’Shortly before climbing the building, Mr Atkinson posted a photo of himself with a blonde wig, swimming goggles, blazer and tie, adding: ‘Ready steady breathe deep… go.’ The eco-protest group said the act was intended to highlight Government inaction on the ‘climate and ecological emergency’. Tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, evaded the police officers who patrol the Parliamentary estate and began a daring freeclimb of the structure shortly before 4pm Once at the edge of the scaffolding he unfurled a rainbow-coloured XR banner, with the words ‘No pride on a dead planet’ while another said ‘Citizens Assembly’ The eco-protest group said the act was intended to highlight Government inaction on the ‘climate and ecological emergency’ Tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, evaded the police officers who patrol the Parliamentary estate and began a daring freeclimb of the structure shortly before 4pm (pictured: A status posted on Facebook)Police had closed the entrance to Westminster Tube station that is across the road from Big Ben, and asked people to leave the area directly in front of where the demonstrator was climbing. Other entrances to the Tube station remain open.One onlooker said officers had used a lift that is part of the scaffolding to reach Mr Atkinson and could be seen speaking to him as he sat in the netting. Other officers were seen at the base of the tower with ropes. Yoga teacher Katherine Beaumont, an XR member who said she speaks for Mr Atkinson, said he was demanding to speak to Boris Johnson ‘wig to wig’.In a statement on his behalf, she said: ‘What is Boris scared of? He must be terrified because he is hiding from a bunch of ”crusties”, pensioners, normal people with children and loves, lives and jobs, peaceful protesters and non-violent communicators. The climb was the latest in a string of stunts staged by Extinction Rebellion on the penultimate day of their autumn uprising – despite being barred from protesting in the capital since Monday by the Met Police (pictured: Mr Atkinson posted this image online after scaling the structure) Extinction Rebellion protester Ben Atkinson from Rydal, in Cumbria, holds onto the scaffolding surrounding Elizabeth Tower which houses Big Ben Yoga teacher Katherine Beaumont, an XR member who said she speaks for Mr Atkinson, said he was demanding to speak to Boris Johnson ‘wig to wig’ In a statement on his behalf, she said: ‘What is Boris scared of? He must be terrified because he is hiding from a bunch of ”crusties”, pensioners, normal people with children and loves, lives and jobs, peaceful protesters and non-violent communicators.”If he represents the people then where is he? Hiding and not representing the country. Hiding from eminent global disaster and failing us all from a position of power.’I would like to talk to him. I’m not afraid of all these police, of dizzy heights and of facing the reality of what is happening to our living planet.’Come up here Boris. I would love a friendly and peaceful chat with you. Wig to wig.’She said Mr Atkinson is from Rydal, in Cumbria.Another Extinction Rebellion protester said he had ‘no idea’ that Mr Atkinson was going to climb the tower.’We all come from different circles but are all part of Extinction Rebellion,’ said Harry, who did not want to give his last name.’We don’t want to bring down the system, we want to shake them enough to get some action.’ Sporting a jacket and tie over a vivid green t-shirt and a pair of leggings, Mr Atkinson climbed approximately sixty to eighty feet up the structure and walked out along a scaffold gantry at the height of the roof of the Palace of Westminster Tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, pictured unfurling a banner having climbed a considerable way up the clock tower The protester was wearing a blond wig, jacket and tie so as to resemble the Prime Minister but paired his costume with a green pair of leggings and a t-shirtMr Atkinson made it to within around 20ft of the famous clock face when he unfurled his banner, having climbed up the scaffolding put up around the tower during full-scale renovationsThe climb was the latest in a string of stunts staged by Extinction Rebellion on the penultimate day of their autumn uprising – despite being barred from protesting in the capital since Monday by the Met Police.Earlier the group performed a ‘red handed’ march, where they sprayed hand prints using chalk-based spray paint around Whitehall. But only a handful of the group’s diehards showed up to occupy one of the capital’s busiest road junctions.The eco-activists have set up a wooden pyramid structure at the junction of Oxford Street and Regent’s Street, as police, whose resources have been stretched by two weeks of stunts, moved in.The small group of activists who had assembled sent out tweets pleading for reinforcements as their numbers dwindled, coming 24 hours after violent scenes during a protest on the Tube dented their appeal.The demo was just a shadow of the April chaos, when actress Emma Thompson joined hundreds of activists on a pink boat parked in Oxford Circus, which they occupied for days.This latest stunt saw buses, many of which are made to reduce emissions, cancelled or rerouted, causing delays for workers.Extinction Rebellion this afternoon marched through Westminster and staged a sit in out the front of Downing Street. They were also carrying out a ‘red handed’ protest which will see it spray-paint handprints on landmarks. Extinction Rebellion took over Oxford Street today as their fortnight of stunts ground on, testing Londoners’ patience The group, whose cause suffered a setback when an activists resorted to violence yesterday, admitted they were low on numbersYesterday commuters sick of delays and mayhem took steps to arrest demonstrators themselves at Canning Town tube station. The group later apologised over the violence, and scaled down a planned ‘shutdown’ of Gatwick Airport, but still continued their disruption this morning. Responses from many of Twitter showed that public sympathy with the group has run dry. Many Londoners branded today’s action ‘pointless’ and counter-productive.Abby Deveney wrote: ‘Blocking Oxford Circus halts buses used by real people … people with buggies, people with walking sticks, people with invisible mobility issues, yeah, those kind of people. This strategy is not helpful’Another Twitter user wrote: ‘The extinction rebellion lot made me late to work. They really blocked Oxford Street (where regular cars are already banned) and just disrupted public transport. They need to work on their tactics.’Robert Hook wrote: ‘A fairly pointless protest indeed, given that the desire of most vendors along Oxford Street is to pedestrianise it! ‘It’s true that this is one of the most polluted streets on the planet, but the only people inconvenienced by this are the people least able to make a difference!’ An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said of the Oxford Circus protest: ‘The end of the Rebellion approaches, and Oxford Circus has once again been occupied by Extinction Rebellion, to be used as a space of community and democratic resistance.’We are coming together to tell the truth, and to bring attention to why we are protesting. It’s not about causing meaningless disruption; we have a vital message to bring – the consequences of the climate and ecological crisis are horrific.’Extinction Rebellion, as well as other movements around the world including the climate strikes and decades of indigenous resistance, are using the beacon of civil resistance to shine a light on this emergency.’ Scores of police stand circled the wooden pyramid structure, as protesters sat on top of it, or lay down underneath it Police escort protesters dressed in red along Whitehall in London during an Extinction Rebellion demo this afternoonComedian Steve Coogan (right) today become the latest celebrity to support the Extinction Rebellion protest, joining activists (some dressed in red for their ‘red hand protest, left) on a march towards WhitehallComedian Steve Coogan today become the latest celebrity to support the Extinction Rebellion protest, joining activists on a march towards Whitehall.Coogan told the PA news agency: ‘I wanted to lend my voice to the cause. Maybe people who like what I have done and who might not be completely sold on Extinction Rebellion might give it a second chance.’It’s an important movement. Some people try to characterise it as a fringe movement, but it’s not. I like the fact that it was started by young people, but now older people have joined in too.’Climate change feels like just another issue on the agenda that people are reluctant to pay attention to. But people in Extinction Rebellion and people who seriously believe want to make it a bigger issue.’Anyone who is against the movement is motivated purely by the bottom line.’I have always been environmentally aware and environmentally conscious. I just do not want to stand on the sidelines and not participate. It’s easy to sit and not do anything.’As protests enter day 12, Extinction Rebellion is planning a ‘red handed’ protest which will see it spray-paint handprints around Westminster. Asked about why the activists were protesting despite the police ban, Phyllis Wolff from Dorset said it would be a bigger risk if they did not act.’It’s a bigger risk for us not to do this,’ she told the PA news agency.’I look at my grandchildren and I think, how can I not do this?’ Activist Alice Hampton, from London, said the group has the right to protest.’We do have a right to a powerful protest in this country,’ she told the PA news agency.’Climate change is probably the biggest issue we have ever faced. We are here protesting peacefully.’Extinction Rebellion which launched its latest campaign 10 days ago, said it was planning on using washable chalk spray to mark the path of its march from Whitehall Gardens to six government departments.A spokesman said: ‘We will raise our red hands, taking responsibility for our actions – we all have blood on our hands.’We march in admission and recognition of the part we play in the injustice of this emergency, and the ongoing suffering of thousands of people around the world due to the climate and ecological breakdown.’The Autumn Uprising is due to end at 6pm on Saturday.Elsewhere in London fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, joined her son Joe Corre and a member of Extinction Rebellion outside the head office of BP.They are delivering a report on the company’s activities in West Papua in Indonesia. Buddhist teacher, 36, pulled from a Tube train by angry commuters during Extinction Rebellion protest is remanded in custody after breaching a previous order not to use the railway An Extinction Rebellion protester who was pulled from the top of a tube train by angry commuters will spend tonight behind bars after he was remanded in custody.Buddist teacher Mark Ovland was one of a group of activists who sparked fury among passengers at Canning Town station in east London yesterday morning.It emerged today that the 36-year-old was subject to bail conditions forbidding him from using the rail network following similar protests in April this year. Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court heard today that Ovland accepts that he had breached his bail conditions and he was remanded in custody ahead of further court hearings.Buddhist trainee teacher Mark Ovland (left in left picture, and right) has been remanded in custody after he scrambled on top of a tube at Canning Town yesterdayProsecutor Zahid Hussain: ‘Mr Ovland admits to breaching his bail. He accepts that he was at Canning Town Underground Station yesterday at around 6.45am. He admits that his presence puts him in breach of that particular bail condition from the court.’But as he was remanded in custody, another Extinction Rebellion activist, privately-educated ‘poet’ Robin Boardman-Pattinson stood up and tried to address the court.Boardman-Pattinson said: ‘I’m afraid I can’t hear this happen in this courtroom that a man of such good conscience is sent to prison.’He has stood up for so many people around the world. The real criminal in this is the Government and it’s inaction on the eco-side.’Ovland was taken down while four others accused of offences over the protest were allowed to leave.Earlier at the same court, three others appeared before magistrates; Father Martin Newell, 52, Reverend Sue Parfitt, 77, Margreit Bos, 32, from the Netherlands, and 83-year-old pensioner Phil Kingston.They are all accused of taking part in rush hour demos at Shadwell station yesterday.The four allegedly involved in the Shadwell protests were bailed to appear at Inner London Crown Court on November 19. Extinction Rebellion protesters Martin Newell, Sue Parfitt, Philip Kingston and Margreit Bois leave court after Ovland was remanded in custodyYesterday as Extinction Rebellion’s eco-protest entered its 11th day activists launched a co-ordinated strike on three London Underground stations, clambering on top of carriages and gluing themselves to doors despite Monday’s city-wide ban issued by the Met Police.But their efforts to disrupt public transport were met with a furious backlash from commuters, industry groups and politicians leading one XR spokesman to admit the move had been a ‘huge own goal’.Video surfaced from Canning Town station of a protester seemingly being beaten and kicked by angry workers on the station platform having been dragged bodily from the top of a train.
Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as Boris in blond wig scales the Elizabeth Tower scaffolding
