Extinction Rebellion campaigner says latest protests prove movement is 'mobilising across society'

The protests were organised for the start of September to coincide with MPs returning to Parliament from the summer recess. The group told the Independent the move was made to ensure politicians “start anew with justice, care and life at the heart of it”.

The XR website states: “From [September] 1st we will peacefully disrupt the UK Parliament in London, carrying out pressure-building actions over two weeks, until they back the Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill and prepare for crisis with a National Citizens’ Assembly.”

The private members Bill - drafted with the input of scientists, lawyers and academics - aims to strengthen the Climate Change Act.

Mr McCarthy hailed the Bill’s reading in Parliament on Wednesday, and the support it garnered, as an “amazing poster day for us [XR]” and called on voters who “want a green recovery” to contact their MPs asking them to support the Bill.

He said: “It’s really exciting… That’s what non-violent direct action does, it puts the issue back on the agenda in politics and in the media.”

Last month, Greta Thunberg argued that G20 government Covid-19 pandemic rescue packages are giving more support to fossil fuels than to low-carbon energy, and pushed for a greener recovery.

Mr McCarthy has pointed to the UK Treasury and Bank of England bailing out fossil-fuel based industries - including airlines - in recent months.

He claims the Treasury is “pouring literally hundreds of millions into a dirty recovery”.

He said: “We have a difficulty in Britain they don’t have in America… At least Trump says he is going to trash the environment. Our government are saying they are doing it [a green recovery] but they aren’t.

“They have cut billions of pounds from the investment in energy efficiency. That £3billion in the recovery plan doesn’t take us back to where we should have been three or four years ago.”

“It’s greenwashing… it’s a green fig leaf for business as usual,” he added.

A UK government spokesperson has previously said it “continues to take our environmental responsibilities seriously and remain committed to meeting our climate change and wider environmental targets, including net zero [emissions] by 2050.”

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has set out £3 billion of “green spending”, focusing on improving energy efficiency around the country.

The latest demonstrations follow spates of protests over the past two years aimed at attracting political and media attention through actions that disrupt everyday life. Together with the global school strikes launched by Thunberg, XR has raised the profile of the climate crisis.

Last year more than 1,700 arrests were made during a 10-day “Autumn Uprising”, which saw major disruption across the UK.

The Metropolitan Police said more than 200 of the 300 arrests made on Thursday were linked to a demonstration on Lambeth Bridge in the afternoon, which saw the bridge closed to traffic.

Earlier in the day, some protesters glued themselves to the ground around Parliament while others staged a sit-in elsewhere around the perimeter of the parliamentary estate, including at the Carriage Gates. Protests were also staged outside the Treasury in Horse Guards Road.

Some XR supporters said they "jumped the barriers and ran past armed police to glue (themselves) on to the floor outside the House of Lords".

For Friday’s protests, the Met has imposed conditions meaning the gatherings can only take place off the main roads at Parliament Square between 8am and 7pm.

Some 160 arrests were made on the first day of action on Tuesday, for offences including breaching public order conditions, obstructing the highway, obstructing police and assault on an emergency worker, and 72 people had been arrested as of 5pm on Wednesday, the majority for breaching conditions imposed on the Parliament Square demonstration.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor told PA Media: “The message is really clear - we absolutely understand people have a right to protest, but you do not have a right to disrupt people’s lives and cause huge disruption to the communities in London.

“So if you want to protest, go to Parliament Square... if you’re committing offences elsewhere in London you are liable to arrest and we will be taking action against you.”