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Parliament rooftop protest ends Parliament rooftop protest ends
(about 2 hours later)
A protest on the roof of Parliament against the expansion of Heathrow has ended after almost three hours.A protest on the roof of Parliament against the expansion of Heathrow has ended after almost three hours.
Six campaigners who unfurled banners from Parliament were led away at about 1220 GMT. They were detained by police and are expected to be arrested. Six campaigners who unfurled banners from Parliament were led away at about 1220 GMT and detained by police.
It is thought the group gained access to the roof via a fire escape. It is thought the group gained access using visitors' passes and made their way to the roof via a fire escape.
During prime minister's questions, Gordon Brown said decisions must be made "in the chamber of this House and not on the roof of this House".During prime minister's questions, Gordon Brown said decisions must be made "in the chamber of this House and not on the roof of this House".
Police said there was a "strong possibility" the protesters had been guests of Westminster security pass holders.
WavingWaving
The rooftop incident, which will raise fresh questions over security at the Houses of Parliament, started at about 0930 GMT. Protesters from the Plane Stupid group climbed onto the roof at about 0930 GMT, unfurled banners and threw down paper planes, which they said were made from documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
The protesters were led off peacefully and then searched by officers.The protesters were led off peacefully and then searched by officers.
This followed a similar episode on Monday, when banners were draped over a plane at Heathrow. It followed a similar episode on Monday when banners were draped over a plane at Heathrow.
These stunts are becoming tiresome and do nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda Matthew KnowlesSociety of British Aerospace Companies Keeping Parliament secureAt-a-glance: Past protestsThese stunts are becoming tiresome and do nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda Matthew KnowlesSociety of British Aerospace Companies Keeping Parliament secureAt-a-glance: Past protests
During the rooftop protest, paper planes were thrown into the courtyard below. A Plane Stupid spokesman said of the third runway plans for Heathrow: "Two million Londoners face increased levels of noise, while CO2 emissions from the airport would shoot up despite claims by Brown that he's committed to fighting climate change."
According to Plane Stupid, the organisation behind the demonstration, these were made from documents obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.
A spokesman said of the third runway plans for Heathrow: "Two million Londoners face increased levels of noise, while CO2 emissions from the airport would shoot up despite claims by Brown that he's committed to fighting climate change."
'Becoming tiresome'
But Matthew Knowles, spokesman for the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said: "These stunts are becoming tiresome and do nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda."But Matthew Knowles, spokesman for the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said: "These stunts are becoming tiresome and do nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda."
We have had a sham consultation on Heathrow Norman Baker, Lib Dems Security clearance
It is seen as a fundamental part of British democracy that people should be able to go there to lobby their MP. The incident has raised fresh questions about security at Parliament with calls for an immediate inquiry.
It is seen as a fundamental part of British democracy that people should be able to go Parliament to lobby their MP.
The public are allowed temporary passes to some parts of the building, but to get to most parts of the Palace of Westminster it is necessary to have security clearance or to be a guest of someone with clearance.The public are allowed temporary passes to some parts of the building, but to get to most parts of the Palace of Westminster it is necessary to have security clearance or to be a guest of someone with clearance.
We have had a sham consultation on Heathrow Norman Baker, Lib Dems
The buildings have been subject to increasingly tight security measures in recent years because of the threat of terrorist attack.The buildings have been subject to increasingly tight security measures in recent years because of the threat of terrorist attack.
Security had also been reviewed and stepped up after previous protests, including a fathers' rights group throwing purple powder at then prime minister Tony Blair, and anti-hunting ban protesters entering the Commons.Security had also been reviewed and stepped up after previous protests, including a fathers' rights group throwing purple powder at then prime minister Tony Blair, and anti-hunting ban protesters entering the Commons.
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker told the BBC: "It's clearly worrying that they have been able to get on the roof... 'Open' Parliament
"But having said that I can understand, in a sense, the objective of the protesters. We have had a sham consultation on Heathrow." Former Joint Intelligence Committee chairman Sir Richard Mottram told the BBC later he had been surprised that the protesters had got onto the roof.
The prime minister's spokesman said: "Our general position on Heathrow is there's an ongoing consultation on the third runway that closes today." "The security at the House of Commons has been tightened up and one would not expect to see this happen.
He added: "We are not going to comment on this particular incident. It's not clear what the full facts are at this point. It's really a matter for the parliamentary authorities Prime minister's spokesman
"But of course you have got to have a Parliament that is open to people - I've just walked into the studio going past Parliament and there were lots of legitimate protesters queuing up to get in. It all depends on the basis by which these people got into the building."
Liberal Democrat transport spokesman Norman Baker said it was "clearly worrying" they were able to get onto the roof.
But he added: "Having said that I can understand, in a sense, the objective of the protesters. We have had a sham consultation on Heathrow."
The prime minister's spokesman said the consultation on the third runway closes on Wednesday and said he did not want to comment further on the protest: "It's not clear what the full facts are at this point.
"It's really a matter for the parliamentary authorities.""It's really a matter for the parliamentary authorities."
The rooftop demonstration comes on the same day that campaigners for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty are due to hold a mass lobby of MPs at Westminster. The demonstration comes on the same day that campaigners for a referendum on the EU Reform Treaty are due to hold a mass lobby of MPs at Westminster.
There is also a permanent protest against the Iraq War on Parliament Square, led by veteran Brian Haw. There is also a permanent protest against the Iraq War on Parliament Square, led by Brian Haw.
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