An Extinction Rebellion protestor dressed as Boris Johnson has scaled the scaffolding around Big Ben because… well it’s 2019 and anything goes these days.
Standing high above the London skyline on Friday afternoon, tree surgeon Ben Atkinson, 43, was snapped raising his arm in the air in a case of what is presumably just unfortunate timing on the part of the photographer.
The protester draped two signs from Big Ben, one with the Extinction Rebellion logo and the words “No pride on a dead planet” and the other reading “Citizens Assembly”.
While still up Big Ben, Atkinson posted on Facebook: “Gone and done it… Extinction Rebellion. Here to stay.
“We got the declaration of climate emergency last time. Now perhaps, please Boris, you’re struggling to navigate Brexit let alone work our way out of the sixth mass extinction event. Please. Pretty please…. let’s get on with the citizens assembly. Thank’s Boris.
“I know somewhere in there you have compassionate feelings towards something other then your career. You’ve got Premiership. Now you’ve got a chance to do something that could last for centuries. A legacy of being the man that turned it all around. Dare you.
“Oh, and thanks Greta. I heard you calling.”
Onlookers said police officers had used a lift that is part of the scaffolding to reach Atkinson and could be seen speaking to him as he sat in the netting.
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.
Has has been arrested and taken into custody.
As the lift reached the floor a group of supporters cheered from behind a fence surrounding the Palace of Westminster.
Extinction Rebellion activists marched through London on Friday demanding action to combat climate change, as part of the penultimate day of their “Autumn Uprising” campaign.
Hundreds of activists, who launched the latest campaign 10 days ago, defied the police ban on protesting in the capital, PA Media reports.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed 1,768 arrests have been made in connection with the ongoing protests, with demonstrators marching through Westminster, Oxford Circus and staging a sit-in at the front of Downing Street.
Dozens of activists had staged a sit in at the front of the Downing Street gates but they were shortly moved on by police ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting at Number 10 on Friday afternoon.