Climate change protesters who have spent the last week bringing parts of central London to a standstill have said they are going to "pause" their rebellion and concentrate on political objectives instead.

Extinction Rebellion (XR) campaigners say they want to show they are "disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed".

They are "not a rabble, (but) rebels with a cause", and their second week will be "focused on negotiations", they said.

Addressing the crowd at Waterloo Bridge, TV presenter and supporter Chris Packham said that "because of our force, we will be asking for negotiation to meet our objectives".

He added that before ministers begin dealing with Brexit again, "we must ask them to think about something altogether more pressing: saving our planet".


Image: The protesters have been blocking areas of London for a week

As of 12pm on Monday, 1,065 people had been arrested in connection with the demonstrations, and 53 had been charged, the Metropolitan Police said.

Overnight, Waterloo Bridge was re-opened, as were some sites in Oxford Street and Parliament Square. Conditions are no longer required but there are police officers at each site.

XR's political circle co-ordinator, Farhana Yamin, said they now want to show they are "not some flash in the pan".

They also want to "make headway on our three demands": that the government must "tell the truth by declaring a climate and ecological emergency"; that ministers must act straight away; and that key decisions should be taken by a citizens' assembly.

But the protesters, camped at locations across London, will not disappear from the streets altogether.

Ms Yamin says they want to remain at Old Palace Yard in Westminster, and said they would discuss those plans with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan and the Met Police.

Image: Extinction Rebellion protesters have been packing up at Waterloo Bridge

Commissioner Cressida Dick has condemned the "miserable disruption" inflicted on Londoners, urging the activists to protest lawfully or go home.

Mr Khan said on Sunday that the protest was "taking a real toll on our city".

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Ms Yamin said: "Today (Sunday) marks a transition from week one, which focused on actions that were vision-holding but also caused mass disruption across many dimensions (economic, cultural, emotional, social).

"Week two marks a new phase of rebellion focused on negotiations where the focus will shift to our actual political demands."

Image: Police have made hundreds of arrests

She added: "We want to show that XR is a cohesive long-term, global force, not some flash in the pan.

"We can do that by showing we are disciplined and cannot only start disruptive actions but also end these when needed. We are not a rabble, we are rebels with a cause!

"Being able to 'pause' a rebellion shows that we are organised and a long-term political force to be reckoned with.

"This will give XR leverage as we enter into negotiations with those in power to make headway on our three demands."

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Olympic gold medallist Etienne Stott was among those arrested on Waterloo Bridge as the carriageway was cleared on Sunday evening.

The London 2012 canoe slalom champion was carried away by police at around 8.30pm as he shouted about the "ecological crisis".

Image: Etienne Stott was among those arrested, according to Extinction Rebellion

We are awaiting the realease of British Olympic Gold Medalist @EtienneStott who was arrested tonight amid the @ExtinctionR #InternationalRebellion protests in #London We thank him and everyone else for their efforts in highlighting the existential threat or #ClimateBreakdown — Extinction Rebellion Nottingham (@XrNottingham) April 21, 2019

During the past week, protesters have stopped traffic in Oxford Circus, set up camp in Marble Arch and created a temporary garden on Waterloo Bridge.

XR members have said they will not disrupt other parts of London if Mr Khan speeds up the implementation of the Declaration of Climate and Ecological Emergency, and considers setting up a London Citizens' Assembly.

But they have warned their protests could intensify, depending on how much progress is made.

Neither the Met nor the Mayor's Office would say whether they were considering the proposals.