Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to Speaker’s chair inside House of Commons

Extinction Rebellion protesters glued themselves to the Speaker’s chair inside the House of Commons just before noon today (September 2).

The climate action group had three people book an official tour of the building, then glued themselves in a chain around the Speaker’s chair inside the Parliamentary Chamber.

The speech read out in the chamber said: “We are in crisis. And what goes on in this chamber every day makes a joke out of us all. We cannot afford to carry on like this. 

“It is possible to act on climate and costs in a way that is fair and supports everyone. But our political system is too out of date and out of touch to see beyond the next election cycle and do what needs to be done.

“We need a new way of making decisions, where more voices are heard, not just those at the top. We need the true diversity of the country to be represented.

“We need a citizens’ assembly, now. Citizens’ assemblies empower ordinary people to make decisions that benefit everyone – decisions that can get us out of this mess and make life better, safer, fairer for all of us.”

Behind the Speaker’s chair in the great hall, two people held two large banners that read ‘Citizens’ Assemblies Now’ and ‘Let The People Decide’.

Outside the building, a member of Extinction Rebellion climbed up the scaffolding around Big Ben and held another giant banner that read ‘Let The People Decide- Citizens’ Assemblies Now”, while two others chained themselves to the railings. 

Extinction Rebellion said the action today was the opening act for its September plans, which it hopes will bring 100,000 people on to the streets in civil resistance next spring. 

Part of the protest was around the High Court ruling in July that found the UK Government’s pathway to net zero was unlawful because it did not provide enough detail on how it plans to tackle rising harmful emissions.

Alanna Byrne, of Extinction Rebellion, said: “It is possible to change things and update politics so it really represents ordinary people.

Independent citizens’ assemblies can show that those blocking progress in Westminster have no democratic mandate to continue destroying the environment and give power back to people.

“Selected like a jury and supported with independent, expert knowledge, this is true democracy that reflects the diversity of the population. 

“But to create a new, fairer politics will require first thousands, then millions of us. It will require sustained culture-shifting civil disobedience, until we become impossible to ignore. Then, when there’s enough of us, positive change will become inevitable.”

Pictured top: Extinction Rebellion protesters glue themselves to Speaker’s chair (Picture: Extinction Rebellion)