Pro-Palestine activist dodges jail for climbing Big Ben in 17-hour protest | UK | News
Activist Daniel Day arrives at Southwark Crown Court earlier today (Image: Anatolia, via Getty Images)
A pro-Palestinian protester who caused serious mayhem by climbing Big Ben barefoot and sitting at the London landmark for 17 hours has been given a suspended prison sentence. Daniel Day, 30, triggered a major response from emergency services and led to road closures around Westminster when he climbed Big Ben on March 8 last year.
His day cost the taxpayer at least £92,000 because he refused to come down and livestreamed his protest on Instagram chanting “Free Palestine”. On Monday he was sentenced by Westminster Recorder Judge Tony Baumgartner to 14 months’ imprisonment, suspended for the next two years.
Day, who is unemployed, was found guilty of deliberately or recklessly causing a public nuisance with this display at a hearing in June and pleaded guilty to trespassing in a protected area such as the Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House. Wearing a black shirt and green plaid skirt, she entered the dock with a backpack and a stick in hand to help with her failing eyesight.
Daniel Day speaks to supporters outside court ahead of sentencing. (Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Prosecutor Jack Guise said Day unfurled the Palestinian flag after reaching a ledge in the middle of the tower and remained there until midnight.
“This was a well-planned crime and you knew exactly what you were doing,” the judge said. You foolishly climbed too high into the tower; Far enough to cause serious harm to you and possibly others if you fell.
The judge found that Day had “little idea of your offending or any real remorse”, but noted that Day had not been resentful since the Big Ben incident and had strong personal mitigating factors, including loss of sight. Day was ordered to attend up to 20 rehabilitation days and will be electronically monitored for four months as part of his suspended sentence.
“It’s good to see people have strong principles, but that doesn’t give permission to break the law,” the judge said. You and people like you must understand that you, like everyone else, are subject to the laws of this country.
“You and people like you cannot decide which laws to obey and which laws to break. If that happens, the rule of law collapses.”
As part of security measures and to try to scare Day’s audience away, police officers closed Bridge Street, the main intersection next to the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Bridge, cut off pedestrian access to Parliament Square and set up cordons in Whitehall and Victoria Embankment.
Day was given a suspended sentence. (Image: Ben Whitley/PA Wire)
Transport for London (TfL) lost an estimated £25,000 in bus fares due to diversions and routes being shortened; Meanwhile, Day’s supporters at one point tried to block the fire truck’s movement. More than 2,500 tours of Parliament also had to be canceled at a cost of £67,000.
Day was given a conditional discharge in June 2024 for failing to remove his face mask on Palmerston Road in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, and was fined £200 for blocking the road during a protest in November 2024.
After he was released with a suspended sentence, he hugged his supporters in the courtroom.
