Winston Churchill’s statue vandalised AGAIN – ‘Is a racist’ tagged on historic monument

Photos shared on social media showed the iconic statue daubed with graffiti during demonstrations by climate activists. The damage to the monument came weeks after the word “racist” was written on the same statue during a Black Lives Matter rally earlier in the summer. 

In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: “We have arrested a man in Parliament Square on suspicion of causing criminal damage to the Winston Churchill statue.”

On Thursday, police also arrested a group of topless protesters who chained themselves to the railing surrounding Parliament.

At least 13 shirtless women attached themselves to the outside of the Palace of Westminster with bike locks around their necks.

One bare-chested woman held a baby as she took part in the protest. 

Police arrested a man on suspicion of damaging a statue of Winston Churchill (Image: PA)

The words ‘is a racist’ were written on a statue of Winston Churchill on Thursday (Image: GETTY)

The women wore masks with “4C” written on them, and with words including drought, starvation and wildfires written on their chests to highlight the anticipated consequences of global heating.

To passing MPs, a banner read: “Can’t bare the truth?”

Activist Sarah Mintram said: “Now we’ve got your attention.

“By neglecting to communicate the consequences of a 4C world – war, famine, drought, displacement – the Government are failing to protect us.”

READ MORE: Extinction Rebellion facing massive crackdown after demo chaos

Police arrest a protester in Parliament Square on Thursday (Image: GETTY)

Officers removed the D-locks from their necks and took the women to police stations in four separate vans as supporters cheered the protesters on from Parliament Square.

One MP likened the topless protest to the Glastonbury Festival. 

Conservative Sir David Amess said that allowing the noise and disruption of demonstrations in Parliament Square was “absolutely ridiculous”.

The issue was raised during Business Questions in the Commons in the second week of action by the environmental group in central London.

Sir David asked Deputy Leader of the House Stuart Andrew, standing in for Commons Leader Jacob Rees-Mogg, whether action could be taken to prohibit such demonstrations.

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Extinction Rebellion protesters in Parliament Square (Image: GETTY)

A protester jumps on top of a Land Rover near Parliament (Image: GETTY)

He said: “Will (Mr Andrew) find time for a debate on the restoration of Sessional Orders preventing demonstrations outside the Palace of Westminster?

“Returning here last Tuesday I thought I was entering the Glastonbury Festival which I thought had been cancelled. To allow the noise, the disruption, the cost of policing is absolutely ridiculous.

“So can we please restore these orders so we no longer have demonstrations on a busy roundabout sandwiched between Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster?”

Mr Andrew responded: “Of course the right to protest is something we all want to protect, that is something that should be done.

“But equally, we need to be able to do our job here in Parliament and I will ensure that the question he has asked will be put before (Mr Rees-Mogg).”

XR staged a protest in London on Thursday calling for climate action (Image: GETTY)

Police have arrested 648 people while policing protests held by Extinction Rebellion since the start of September.

The Met has also put conditions on the protesters in a mid to minimise disruption caused to members of the public. 

The notice under Section 14 of the Public Order Act stated that the protest had to be wrapped up by 7pm and the gathering would have to be confined to Parliament Square. 

Thursday’s action in Westminster came days after XR made headlines for blocking the distribution of several national newspapers. 

Members blockaded the Newsprinters printing presses and delayed the delivery of hundreds of papers. 

XR climate activists take part in Thursday’s protest (Image: GETTY)

At times, the XR movement has won wider backing from the public as they marched on cities across the UK.

During some demonstrations traffic in busy London streets has been ground to a halt.

But many have been highly critical of the group’s tactics and accused members of stifling a free press with their blockade on printing sites. 

Boris Johnson criticised what he called the “completely unacceptable” action which saw newspaper deliveries disrupted. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel has described the activists as “so-called eco-crusaders turned criminals”.