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Heathrow protesters demonstrate on roof of Parliament
Evening Standard 27 Feb 2008Protesters breached security at Westminster today by climbing on to the roof of the Houses of Parliament to demonstrate against the expansion of Heathrow airport.
The five activists from campaign group Plane Stupid unfurled two huge banners, one saying No Third Runway, and the other, in a reference to airport operator BAA, read BAA Headquarters.
The protest came on the final day of the Government's consultation on expanding Heathrow airport, including a third runway.
Plane Stupid said they gained access to Parliament as visitors, walked through the building, got into a lift and then climbed onto the roof.
It was the second security breach this week following an incident at Heathrow on Monday when five Greenpeace activists managed to climb on top of a British Airways plane in protest against expanding the airport.
The protest lasted almost three hours and ended shortly after Gordon Brown stood up in the Commons at the start of Prime Minister's Questions.
Mr Brown told MPs: "The message should go out today very clearly that decisions in this country should be made in the chamber of this House and not on the roof of this House.
"It is a very important message that should be sent out to those people who are protesting."
One of the roof protesters, Richard George, 27, from London, said: "I am stood on the roof of Parliament because the democratic process had been corrupted.
"The aviation industry had taken full advantage of a weak Prime Minister to get the Heathrow consultation fixed.
"It does not even consider global warming despite everything Brown has said about the environment and despite the massive impact aviation has on the climate.
"The Prime Minister does not even have the courage to ask Londoners the simple question: 'Do you want a third runway?'. Instead, his Government published a consultation document full of gobbledegook and industry spin."
Mr George added: "We decided to let Gordon Brown get on with Prime Minister's Questions, but we just wanted him to know what it is like to have an inconvenience above your head that you did not ask for."
They made paper aeroplanes out of confidential Whitehall documents they claimed showed the consultation process was "fixed", and glided the planes into the MPs' car park below.
The campaign group claimed that the documents - obtained under the Freedom of Information Act - proved that BAA wrote parts of the consultation document and that the Government had already decided to build a third runway and a sixth terminal at the world's biggest international airport.
Mr George added: "Now the consultation is over, we can safely ignore the fixed result and get on with the job of stopping this new runway being built.
"A huge coalition of local residents, Londoners and environmentalists is coming together, supported by all the major mayoral candidates, to stand against Gordon Brown and say 'no more'."
Plane Stupid said BAA and the Government wanted a sixth terminal and third runway built over homes, schools and churches in the villages of Sipson and Harmondsworth.
"This would increase the number of flights from 480,000 a year to at least 702,000.
"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," a spokesman said.
The protesters said they branded Parliament "BAA HQ" because of the "extraordinary level of collusion" between the aviation industry and government.
Matthew Knowles, spokesman for the Society of British Aerospace Companies, said: "These stunts are becoming tiresome and do nothing more than peddle inaccurate propaganda.
"The aviation industry has achieved a 75% cut in fuel burn over the past 50 years and a similar reduction in noise from aircraft in the past 30 years."
Michelle Di Leo, director of FlyingMatters, a coalition of unions, business, tourism groups and farmers, commented: "Today's action by Plane Stupid is misjudged, misdirected, and irresponsible.
"Aviation is responsible for 2% of global carbon emissions and is growing at a slower global rate than power generation and industry.
"If they are serious about climate change, they should engage in a proper debate about solutions that will make a real difference rather than indulge in publicity stunts which waste police time."
Westminster sources said they suspected the banners were stored inside the Commons for the protesters to collect this morning.
The banners were believed to be too big for the activists to have taken them through security, it was suggested.
Reader views (8)
Gordon Brown says decisions should be made in the chamber of Commons, but those decisions must reflect what the people of this country want. Those people who have today disobeyed the government have done so in the interests of the people. We can't let the charade that the government is following our mandate continue any longer. The only mandate it follows is that of the corporate interests of BAA.
The aviation industry continues to spin lies such as the 2% figure quoted in this article, which we all Know to be a complete misrepresentation of the truth. The impact of building a third runway on noise levels, health, and most importantly climate change will be catastrophic.
I sincerely hope that individuals such as these brave people today will continue to put themselves out like this, and make it impossible for those cocooned inside the palace of Westminster to ignore any longer the clamour of opposition on the streets outside.
- Laura Ashbourne, Ealing, 27/02/2008 15:31
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There WILL indeed be a 3rd runway, and there's very little that you can do about it.
I find it very sad that you take such pride in 'civil disobedience' as you put it. Really it's just anti-establishment trouble making, but call it what you like to make you feel adequate.
Until the runway is built, we can all sit back and laugh at your silly antics. Civil disobedience?
- Rufus T Firefly, UK, 27/02/2008 15:18
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I have yet to hear one Londoner say they want this expansion. And why should we? Just to line the pockets of the Spanish owned BAA? IF we really must have more capacity, and I am not convinced, I am with Boris, and the plan for another airport East of London.
I hope people march in their millions against this one.
- Stephen, London, 27/02/2008 14:17
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There will be no 3rd runway and there will be much worse civil disobedience. Heathrow will be brought to its knees if plans are approved - I have been in meetings where direct action will be used to make Heathrow impossible to use as a customer. Democracy is dead in this country - naturally I can remember who they were or what they will do but they will.
- Christian, London UK, 27/02/2008 13:51
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The demo was fully justified. The Government's reasons for proposing Heathrow expansion are flawed.
CO2 emissions projected for Heathrow will render government targets for reductions in emissions impossible
Aviation could account for 100% of the UK’s carbon allocation by 2050 in a climate stabilisation scenario
The third runway will create noise for homes, schools and workplaces not previously affected by aircraft noise
Additional people under the new flight path may become ill (asthma, stress, distress, etc) costing local businesses and the NHS more than the 5 billion pound Heathrow return on investment planned over the next 70 years
Over 50m people a year being driven to Heathrow will result in increased pollution and road congestion
The potential switch from air to rail for journeys up to three hours has not been considered
The Government has ignored the opportunities to manage aviation growth by relevant charges and taxes
Stephen Nelson, BAA's C/E, refuses to say if a fourth runway and a seventh terminal will be required
Over 35 per cent of passengers landing at Heathrow are just switching planes to fly out again
Only 40% of the passengers at Heathrow are business people
- Peter Eversden, Chiswick, 27/02/2008 12:57
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Disobedience, in the eyes of anyone who has read history, is man's original virtue. It is through disobedience that progress has been made, through disobedience and through rebellion.
Way to go Plane Stupid...I'm with you all the way.
- Baroness Von Carrie Reichardt, chiswick, 27/02/2008 12:52
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The endless expansion of Heathrow is a blight on London in many ways, and completely unnecessary to meet the business needs of the city. Our country can have absolutely no credibility in the discussions on global warming if it continues to give a free hand to the expansion of the most polluting form of transport.
It is good to see some individuals prepared to stick their necks out to draw attention to these issues, as mass apathy is the root of bad government.
- Ian H, London, 27/02/2008 12:25
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What a waste of everyone's time!
Why do we indulge these oik's delusions of adequacy? Ignore them and leave them there all day and all night.
There will be a third runway. Get used to it Greenpeace, you have no mandate on behalf of the general public.
- Rufus T Firefly, UK, 27/02/2008 10:38
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