Activist scales Big Ben scaffolding to unfurl giant banner

Activist with muddled message scales Big Ben: Protester climbs scaffolding to unfurl banner with BLM, LGBT, All Lives Matter and other slogans on it… while police try to coax him down

An activist began scaling the scaffolding around Big Ben in Westminster this morning, putting up banners protesting about the coronavirus lockdown.  

One banner said: ‘No Tier 3 lock-down for Gt N’n Pwrhse unless an xtra £2bn for whole region from Chester, Stoke, Derby, Nott’m, Boston, Skeg’s to Scottish border. If not: Gt N’n rebellion. XR North + unions + BLM UK + LGTBQ + many more.’ 

Another banner, which he was pictured attaching to the scaffolding today, said: ‘Black and all lives matter so unify peoples of the world, unite and put things right.’

The activist began scaling the scaffolding around Big Ben in Westminster this morning

One of the banners (on the left) said: 'No Tier 3 lock-down for Gt N'n Pwrhse unless an xtra £2bn for whole region from Chester, Stoke, Derby, Nott'm, Boston, Skeg's to Scottish border. If not: Gt N'n rebellion. XR North + unions + BLM UK + LGTBQ + many more.

One of the banners (on the left) said: ‘No Tier 3 lock-down for Gt N’n Pwrhse unless an xtra £2bn for whole region from Chester, Stoke, Derby, Nott’m, Boston, Skeg’s to Scottish border. If not: Gt N’n rebellion. XR North + unions + BLM UK + LGTBQ + many more.

Another banner, which the man was pictured attaching to the scaffolding today, said: 'Black and all lives matter so unify peoples of the world, unite and put things right'

Another banner, which the man was pictured attaching to the scaffolding today, said: ‘Black and all lives matter so unify peoples of the world, unite and put things right’

The scene was spotted by Twitter user ‘L Zalite’, an NHS midwife who took a picture at 8.02am and tweeted: ‘How to speak up when it matters #BigBen #lockdownUK.’ 

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘At around 7.50am a man climbed up scaffolding surrounding the Elizabeth Tower. Officers are on scene and dealing.’ 

More to follow