'Suffragette' Tamsin held in Parliament climate protest

HUNDREDS of environmental campaigners laid siege to the Palace of Westminster last night after they failed to storm Parliament in a demonstration aimed at replicating a suffragette protest of 100 years ago.

A line of police officers held the protesters some in Edwardian-style costumes at bay at the main St Stephen's Entrance while officials secured the doors with two large metal bars.

Five arrests were made for breach of the peace. The hammering of protesters, chanting "deeds not words" could be clearly heard inside Westminster. Police said the protest was "peaceful but vociferous" and that none of the demonstrators had entered the building.

Green campaign group Climate Rush organised the direct action to mark the centenary of an identical "rush" by suffragettes on 13 October, 1908.

The aim was to draw attention to climate change and plans to expand both Heathrow and Stansted airports. After more than two hours outside Parliament, their leader conceded the attempt to "rush" the building had failed and the protesters dispersed.

The demonstration began peacefully at about 6.30pm as the protesters, many dressed as suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, listened to speeches from MEP and Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, and journalist Rosie Boycott.

Ms Lucas, who had told the demonstration there were fewer than 100 months left before climate change became irreversible, later defended the direct action.

She said: "In this situation it's legitimate to take peaceful, direct action, just like the suffragettes did 100 years ago. They were simply arguing for the right to vote but now we are campaigning for the right of everybody on this planet to survive."

The MEP criticised the Prime Minister for coming to the aid of City bankers but not doing enough to prevent climate change. Ms Boycott, former editor of The Independent on Sunday, The Independent and The Daily Express, said: "It's 100 years to the day since the suffragettes came to Parliament.

"Climate change is closer to my heart but 100 years ago to the day our grandmothers did extraordinary things they didn't get to appreciate. We protested today because there needs to be more action on climate change." After the speeches, the demonstrators launched their "rush" on the St Stephen's entrance, stopping traffic and confronting police.

One protester, Rosie Haworth-Booth, 62, from Wandsworth, said: "It's a pity we couldn't get into Parliament. I was near the front and got a bit afraid. I'm too old for this. The Government is prepared to give £50 billion to help the banks and more people will be affected by this issue."

Climate Rush organiser Jennifer Ruhemann said: "Climate change is a man-made problem, that is why women must take action. A hundred years ago women were calling for the right to vote, now women are calling for climate action."

Among those held by police was another organiser, Cambridge graduate Tamsin Omond, 23. She was detained overnight for a breach of bail conditions which followed her arrest in February for scaling the roof of Parliament in protest at the Heathrow expansion.

Speaking to the Evening Standard before she was arrested, Ms Omond said: "I am really pleased that so many people turned up to protest. I had a three-hour MA exam today which I had to leave half way through to get here. I doubt I've done that well. I want to radicalise a lot of women and get Gordon Brown scared about how many different people are getting involved in direct action.''

Ms Omond, from Belsize Park and the granddaughter of a baronet, was appearing at City and Westminster magistrates' court today and could be remanded in custody until her trial in November.