Climate change protesters ended a rooftop protest at Britain's Houses of Parliament tonight.
More than 30 Greenpeace activists spent the night on top of the Palace of Westminster to send MPs returning from their summer break the message that they must take urgent action to slash carbon emissions.
They unfurled yellow banners which read: “Change the politics, save the climate.”
Scotland Yard said all the protesters had come down from the roof tonight and 19 arrests were made. More arrests may follow.
The protest started yesterday but almost half the protesters came off the roof last night.
A police spokesman said 23 people arrested last night on suspicion of trespassing on a protected site had been bailed to return in January pending further inquiries.
Greenpeace said all 31 volunteers who spent nearly 28 hours on the roof had been taken into police custody.
Executive director John Sauven said: “This direct action has been an amazing success, but the work has only just begun.
“With our MPs back from the summer break and the UN climate conference in Copenhagen just around the corner, it’s time to see some real leadership from our elected politicians.
“They need to make climate change, green jobs and a low carbon economy their top priorities rather than obsessing over their short-term prospects at the next election.
“We’re at one minute to midnight, and the clock is ticking.”
Greenpeace has issued a 12-point manifesto for tackling climate change, which calls for zero carbon emissions by 2030, a stop to airport expansion, more wind power and new pollution taxes.
The group is looking to forthcoming climate talks in Copenhagen as the ideal opportunity to address the climate problem.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Energy and Climate Change said: “Public demonstration to highlight the need for action on climate change by all within society is welcome, but it must be conducted in a way that respects the rule of law.
“We have a comprehensive plan to transform our economy and society, by investing in green jobs, cleaning up our energy supplies and making our homes energy efficient.
“This week we host vital talks to accelerate the development of clean coal and to progress the Copenhagen deal. It’s our domestic record that has given us the credibility we need to press hard for an ambitious global climate deal.”
PA