A live TV broadcast of MPs speaking about new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was interrupted by Commons security after a protest erupted in Parliament’s Central Lobby.
Laura Farris and Rebecca Pow were being interviewed by veteran reporter Jon Craig on Sky News on Monday afternoon when the Greenpeace demonstrators suddenly rushed into the middle of the public meeting point between the Commons and Lords.
“We seem to have a demo going on behind us,” said Mr Craig.
A security officer, who seemed to be acting on instructions, then wandered over to the broadcast point and briefly put his hand over the camera.
“We are midway through an interview, excuse me,” protested Mr Craig.
The officer then returned and the reporter told the MPs that the interview was going to stop.
The security officer’s back them appeared in screenshot and Mr Craig said: “You are live on Sky News.”
Greenpeace said dozens of activists had occupied Central Lobby, calling on Mr Sunak to back a windfall tax on fossil fuels, better support for households and home insulation.
The green group said more than 30 campaigners from Greenpeace and Fuel Poverty Action entered the Palace of Westminster as tourists and visitors to stage the protest, linking arms, reading testimonies from people struggling with bills and unfurling a banner reading "chaos costs lives".
Greenpeace UK’s co-executive director, Will McCallum, said: "Rishi Sunak should have realised by now the huge mistake he made by blocking plans for warmer homes and failing to properly tax fossil fuel giants.
"People need permanently lower bills and a safe climate, and that means more renewable energy, more financial support, a nationwide street-by-street insulation programme, and a proper tax on the energy profiteers to pay for it."
There was no attempt by police to move on the demonstrators and after reading out a number of statements they left voluntarily.
A Commons spokesman said: “Broadcasting of protests or disorder is not permitted and broadcasters are regularly reminded of the rules.
“We are aware of a protest on the Parliamentary Estate that was attended by Parliamentary Security and the Metropolitan Police who dealt with the situation promptly”.
