Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion glued themselves to the Speaker’s chair in London’s House of Commons on Friday. As seen in a photo posted to the group’s Twitter account, three activists held Speaker of the House Lindsay Hoyle’s carved chair while two others held up banners.
It read: “Citizens’ meeting now!” and “Let the people decide!”. Outside the currently scaffolded Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Houses of Parliament, they had put up another banner with the same slogans.
“Independent citizens’ assemblies can show that those blocking progress in Westminster have no democratic mandate to continue environmental destruction,” an Extinction Rebellion spokeswoman said, according to the British news agency PA.
“We are aware of an incident on Parliament’s grounds and are treating the situation with urgency,” a House of Commons spokesman said.
In the past week, environmental activists of the “Last Generation” in Germany have repeatedly made headlines by sticking themselves to the frames of historical paintings – for example at the Berlin Picture Gallery, the Alte Meister Gallery in Dresden and the Frankfurt Städel. Frames were damaged several times.
The Chambers of the British Parliament are currently open to visitors during the summer recess. A new session week begins on Monday. Then the result of the election to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to be announced.