Hundreds of environmental protesters failed in an attempt to storm parliament last night in a bid to emulate the Suffragette movement 100 years ago.
The green campaign group Climate Rush organised the direct action to mark the centenary of an identical "rush" by Suffragettes on October 13, 1908. After gathering in Parliament Square at around 6.30pm, they attempted to storm through the main St Stephen's entrance.
They were met by a large police presence before the entrance was secured with steel bars. Their hammering and chants of "deeds not words" were audible inside.
Around 600 protesters, many dressed as Emmeline Pankhurst in honour of the Suffragette leader, listened as Green Party leader Caroline Lucas told them there were fewer than 100 months left before a tipping point was reached and climate change became irreversible.
She said: "It's legitimate to take peaceful, direct action, just like the Suffragettes did 100 years ago. They were simply arguing for the right to vote but now we are campaigning for the right of everybody on this planet to survive."
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