Extinction Rebellion protest - live: Climate change activists glue themselves to fence outside Corbyn’s house

‘Seriously flawed’ protest

One person who does not appreciate the Extinction Rebellion protests today is music student Anouska Stahlmann, who described the action as “seriously flawed”

The 20-year-old’s mother and elderly grandparents were forced to walk across London to find alternative transport.

Ms Stahlmann said her mother has lupus while her grandparents are in their 70s and were travelling from their home in Buckinghamshire to see her sister perform in a play in south-east London.

“Considering my grandma has sciatica and my grandad has asthma, disruption on the Tubes is not an option,” she said “They really risk being stuck in a tunnel.”

Ms Stahlmann added her family were instead forced to walk across the city to catch a London Overground service.

“I have no issue with wanting to better the environment and we're fairly conscious of it as a family,” she said. “Their methods, however, are seriously flawed and are not inclusive of people who want to support the cause.”

One protester has told The Independent’s travel correspondent Simon Calder, that disruption to London’s public transport system today is a “side effect” of the campaign.

The British Transport Police has now confirmed three people have been arrested over the protest at Canary Wharf DLR station this morning.

Officers, including specialist teams trained in protest removal, were called to the scene at around 10.50am, the force said in a statement.

Two men and one woman have been arrested on suspicion of obstructing a railway. All three remain in police custody.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has suggested Extinction Rebellion protests are “inadvertently” driving people away from using public transport to use taxis instead.

“The best way to address the issue of climate change is to encourage people to use public transport or to walk and cycle so inadvertently the protesters are driving people away from public transport to use minicabs and other things,” Mr Khan told Sky News this afternoon.

The mayor previously warned in a statement yesterday any demonstrations targeting London’s public transport system risked passenger safety.

While accepting public transport is a more environmentally-friendly way of getting around than cars, protesters say the action they are taking is necessary in order to raise awareness.

Teenage climate activist gets Pope’s blessing

Greta Thunberg met the Pope at the Vatican on Wednesday (AP)Meanwhile, the teenage environmental activist Greta Thunberg has taken her campaign to the Vatican today and met Pope Francis, who gave his blessing to her work.

The Swede, 16, sat in the front row at the Pope’s general audience in St. Peter’s Square and when he greeted her, she held up a small sign reading “Join the Climate Strike”.

“Thank you for standing up for the climate and speaking the truth. It means a lot,” she told him.

“God bless you, continue to work, continue. Go along, go ahead,” the pontiff replied.

Ms Thunberg has gained notoriety for organising a school strike in protest over climate change, which was participated in by more than 1.4 million students worldwide.

Activists glue themselves to Corbyn’s fence

Demonstrators glued to the fence outside Mr Corbyn's home (PA)In an interesting and frankly unexpected development, a group of four protesters have now glued themselves to the fence outside Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's Islington home.

One of the demonstrators appears to have also chained herself to the fence using a bike lock.

The activists said they are “all Jeremy Corbyn supporters” but want Labour to go further than declaring a “climate emergency” and are hoping to discuss the situation with Mr Corbyn himself.

“I really love Jeremy Corbyn I have done since the moment I re-joined the [Labour] Party. His presence means a lot to me, he’s inspired me,” one protester said on an Extinction Rebellion live stream.

“Yet I feel really sad having to be here when he doesn’t want me to be here and I’m upsetting his wife, Laura.

“But I know I have to be here because if it’s not Jeremy, then who is going to take us through this emergency and bring people together and design a system that can concede the transformation and offer our children a future, a liveable planet.”

‘I don’t know when protests will end’

Yanai Postelnik has already been arrested during protests (PA)Buddhist minister Yanai Postelnik, who was arrested on Monday while coordinating the continuing demonstration at Waterloo Bridge, says he “doesn't know when protests will end”.

The 54-year-old said activists would not consider moving unless the government recognises the urgency of the need to tackle climate change, agrees to work towards achieving a carbon-neutral society by 2025 and sets up a citizens’ assembly.

“It's not just about using our voice which seems to be able to be ignored when you sign a petition or join a march,” he said.

“Bringing people onto the street who are willing to take a risk for our grandchildren is so powerful.

“And what cannot be ignored is the presence of warm vulnerable human bodies which is basically our foundation at Extinction Rebellion.”

Naturalist and broadcaster Chris Packham has been among the protesters taking part in demonstrations this afternoon in central London.

“Spirits high and the mood is peaceful and resolute at Oxford Circus,” he tweeted.

Jeremy Corbyn has declined to meet protesters today after they chained themselves to the garden fence of his home in Islington, a spokesman told reporters waiting outside.

Easter eggs and flowers from the protesters, which had been taken into Mr Corbyn's home earlier, were returned to the street by the Labour leader's wife Laura Alvarez.