Dianne Abbott MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, responding to the Met Police’s banning of Extinction Rebellion from the whole of London, said:

“The Labour Party unequivocally supports the right to protest. The Extinction Rebellion protests have been largely peaceful and brought vital attention to the climate emergency – the most important issue facing the world.

“Any criminal acts should of course be handled by police, but an outright ban is wrong and completely contrary to Britain’s long-held traditions of policing by consent, freedom of speech, and the right to protest.”