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The National (Scotland)
The National (Scotland)
National
Hamish Morrison

Protesters 'break into Westminster central lobby' and disrupt Sky News

CLIMATE protesters have reportedly broken into the central lobby in Westminster.

Protesters - understood to be from eco-activism groups Greenpeace and Fuel Poverty Action - performed a sit-down demonstration in the central hall of parliament on Monday afternoon. 

The moment the protest broke out was captured on Sky News during an interview with Tory MPs Rebecca Pow and Laura Farris. 

Dozens of protesters can be seen taking their places on the floor in the background of the interview. 

Some bore a Greenpeace banner reading "Chaos Costs Lives", according to the PA news agency.  

In a statement released to the media announcing the demonstration, the activists said they were calling on the new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to back a "proper windfall tax" on fossil fuels and for better support for home insulation. 

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.”

Ruth London, from Fuel Poverty Action, called for support for their “energy for all” proposal, giving each household enough free energy to cover basics such as heating, cooking and lighting, paid for windfall taxes, ending fossil fuel subsidies and higher prices for excess energy use.

A Commons security guard attempted to shut down the interview but was waved off by the interviewer.   

The National has approached the House of Commons communications team for comment. 

It comes after Just Stop Oil activists threw a cake in the face of the King Charles waxwork in Madame Tussauds in London on Monday morning. 

Four people were arrested, the Metropolitan Police force confirmed. 

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