Semi-naked climate change protesters interrupted a Commons debate on Brexit tonight as they stripped off in the public gallery.
Several of the ‘Extinction Rebellion’ group glued themselves to the window dividing MPs from the watching public in the biggest Commons security breach since 2014.
Labour MP Peter Kyle joked about the ‘naked truth’ as MPs’ attention was distracted from his speech by the demonstration.
Tory MP James Heappey defied Commons rules to photograph the dozen people, who had slogans including ‘climate justice act now’ and ‘eco collapse’ daubed on their backs.
Speaker John Bercow told MPs to ignore the demonstration and continue with the debate as they stood in a line with their backsides pressed against the security glass.
Most were wearing only thong-style underwear which left little to the imagination.
Shocked MPs including former Labour leader Ed Miliband glanced up at the group as they stripped off behind the glass screen that separate the chamber from the public gallery.
Some of the protesters were singing Nelly the Elephant while under the gaze of Parliamentarians.
Savannah, an English literature student from Ladbroke Grove in west London, was one of the naked protesters.
She said: ‘A bunch of people glued themselves to the window in the public gallery.
‘Everyone stripped and two people were elephants and had climate crisis written on them.
‘We were pointing at them as the elephants in the room of the Brexit debate.’
Twelve climate change protesters were later arrested on suspicion of outraging public decency, Scotland Yard said.
Semi-naked climate change protesters interrupted a Commons debate on Brexit tonight as they stripped off in the public gallery
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband was among the MPs surprised by the sudden appearance of the half-naked protesters above them
Tory MP James Heappey defied Commons rules to photograph the dozen people, one of whom had ‘climate justice now’ daubed on his back
She added: ‘Personally I don’t care that much about Brexit.
‘I think it’s fine that people do but I think there are bigger things right now.
The semi-naked demonstration is the most significant breach of security in the public gallery since a man hurled a bag of marbles at the glass screen in October 2014.
The barrier was erected to separate MPs from the public after Tony Blair was pelted with purple powder during PMQs in 2004.
Police officers removed today’s demonstration, which failed to halt debate on the floor of the Commons, after around 30 minutes, using an unidentified liquid to free their hands.
Several of them refused to walk out with police and had to be carried out from the gallery as Commons doorkeepers picked up their abandoned clothes.
All other members of the public who turned out to watch the debate were also asked to leave.
The protesters were questioned by police officers stationed in the House of Parliament outside the Common chamber.
In order to get into the public gallery, members of the public are subjected to airport style security at the entrances to the Palace of Westminster.
They then simply queue up to enter the gallery itself on a first-come, first-served basis.
Extinction Rebellion promises ‘non-violent direct action and civil disobedience’ to make their point on climate change.
Tory Nick Boles used the demonstration to make a joke at the expense of some of his colleagues.
The Grantham MP, who rose to speak in support of his Common Market 2.0 Brexit plan which will be put to a vote in the Commons tonight, said: ‘I find myself wondering whether it’s a coincidence entirely that the people who normally sit around me on these benches are not here, given that we all know that among them are counted noted naturists.’
Speaker John Bercow told MPs to ignore the demonstration and continue with the debate as they stood in a line with their backsides pressed against the security glass
Some of the protesters were singing Nelly the Elephant while under the gaze of Parliamentarians
Mr Boles added: ‘It has long been a thoroughly British trait to be able to ignore pointless nakedness, and I trust the House will be able to return to the issue that we are discussing.’
Labour MP Justin Madders said: ‘There are naked people in the Commons gallery, I don’t know what the point is that they are making but it doesn’t seem to be adding anything to the debate.’
Tory minister Mims Davies said: ‘The campaigners in House of Commons gallery have managed to get naked, glue their hands to the glass but most interestingly as well some retain their security lanyards if not many clothes.’
And Brexit hardliner Andrea Jenkyns said: ‘And they say Brexiteers are extremists! I ain’t getting my clothes off, Even for Brexit. Mad world!’
An Extinction Rebellion spokesman said the naked protest was an effort ‘to try and force the issue up the news agenda as far as possible so it breaks through the Brexit Radar’.
‘They have gone in there knowing they will be arrested. They are willingly doing this,’ he added.
Theresa May (pictured today at Downing Street) has been warned she will ‘destroy’ the Tory party if she caves in to calls for a soft Brexit – while Brexiteers urged her to pursue No Deal
Feuding MPs had earlier been told to vote on four alternatives to Theresa May’s Brexit deal tonight amid fevered speculation she could force an election to end the impasse.
Speaker John Bercow selected proposals for a customs union, Norway-style soft Brexit, second referendum and cancelling Brexit in the second round of indicative votes tonight.
Versions of all four plans failed to get a majority of MPs last week but after Mrs May’s deal was trounced for a third time on Friday cross-party alliances are shifting as Parliament moves to impose a softer Brexit.
The idea of a permanent customs union – which would rule out post-Brexit trade deals – was the strongest option in last week’s debate and the racing favourite ahead of the ballot tonight.
But Labour has switched position to back a Norway-style deal that stays in the single market and customs union during trade talks. If it happened free movement would continue for years with no deadline.
Whatever MPs vote on tonight, Mrs May has summoned her ministers to an epic Cabinet tomorrow – fuelling speculation she is getting ready for the ‘nuclear’ option of an election despite her deep unpopularity in her own party.
Instead of the usual 90-minute discussion, Tory ministers will spend three hours locked in talks without officials from 9am – meaning they can discuss party politics and how to tackle the Brexit endgame in light of the results.
There will then be a normal two-hour Cabinet where the Government can take decisions on the fate of the nation.
Boris Johnson, pictured cycling to Parliament today, and Michael Gove, pictured leaving home today are the two favourites to replace Theresa May when she leaves No 10
Most Tory MPs have a free vote on the alternatives to Mrs May’s deal tonight, with 25 or more junior ministers predicted to be ready to back a softer Brexit.
Cabinet ministers have been told to abstain, but, with a growing rift between Remainers and Brexiteers in the Government, some could still choose to vote for a customs union and resign.
All eyes will be on the 10 ministers known to back a customs union with the EU if Theresa May’s deal is killed off, including the ‘gang of four’ cabinet remainers: Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd, Justice Secretary David Gauke, Business Secretary Greg Clark and Scottish Secretary David Mundell.
They would be willing to quit if Mrs May pushes for a No Deal Brexit and could do it by defying her order to abstain in tonight’s indicative votes.
But Tory Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg today admitted he is ‘very concerned’ that Theresa May will add a customs union onto her Brexit deal to get it through Parliament.
He told LBC radio: ‘My concern is that the Prime Minister is more concerned to avoid a No Deal Brexit than anything else. And therefore I am very concerned that she could decide to go for a customs union tacked onto her deal.’
Mr Rees-Mogg also claimed that last Friday’s vote on the Brexit deal would ‘probably have gone through’ if it had been Mrs May’s deal versus a general election.
Senior ministers have warned the Prime Minister she would ‘destroy’ the Tory party and put Jeremy Corbyn in Downing Street if she gives in to demands to adopt a soft Brexit.
If she were to give way to a softer Brexit, Mrs May would provoke a furious reaction from Brexiteers, with International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt and Transport Secretary Chris Grayling among the ministers reportedly ready to resign.
But more than 170 Tory MPs, including 10 Cabinet ministers, have already signed a blunt, two-paragraph letter to Mrs May reminding her of the party’s manifesto commitment to take Britain out of both the customs union and the single market.
The letter urges her to take the UK out of the EU without a deal on April 12 if she cannot get her own deal through Parliament in the coming days.
Today Chief Secretary to the Treasury Liz Truss said: ‘I don’t have any fear of No Deal – what would be worse is if we don’t Brexit at all’.
But, fuelling expectations Mrs May will try a fourth vote on her deal, she said: ‘I think the answer lies in modifications to the Prime Minister’s deal to be able to get that to have support.’
She also warned the PM against lurching towards a customs union deal because ‘it’s not clear that going softer is the way to command support’ – but ruled out quitting.
Labour is to support the Common Market 2.0 option for Brexit (participation in the single market and a ‘comprehensive customs arrangement’ with the EU including a ‘UK say’ on future EU trade deals) in Monday’s indicative votes in the House of Commons, as well as other options which the party backed last week: a customs union and a second referendum on any deal.
The Common Market 2.0 plan would not end freedom of movement from the EU.
Jeremy Corbyn’s decision is expected to push one or more of these indicative votes over the line tonight.
A Labour spokesman said: ‘In line with our policy, we’re supporting motions to keep options on the table to prevent a damaging Tory deal or No Deal, build consensus across the House to break the deadlock and deliver an outcome that can work for the whole country’.
Mrs May’s deal has now fallen three times in the Commons, with dozens of Tory MPs among those who voted against it on each occasion.
Today Conservative backbencher Richard Drax apologised for backing her EU divorce on Friday.
The South Dorset MP said he should have trusted his instincts ‘and those of the British people’ when he voted on the withdrawal agreement on Friday.
Addressing the House of Commons, Mr Drax said: ‘I made the wrong call on Friday’.
He added: ‘If the Prime Minister cannot commit to taking us out of the EU on April 12, she must resign immediately.
‘This is no longer about leave or remain. That was decided in 2016. This is about the future of our great country.’
DUP Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson also claimed his party will reject her deal even if it was brought back to the Commons ‘a thousand times’.
He said: ‘As far as the Withdrawal Agreement is concerned and the motion before us is concerned, our position has not changed.
‘We have sought to, over the last number of weeks, work with the Government to try and find a way of either getting legal assurances or legislative changes which would enable us to move this process on – we want to see a deal because we want out of the European Union, and we want to have a clear path as to how we do that.