Climate activists halt Chancellor’s Mansion House speech

Climate change protesters have disrupted Chancellor Philip Hammond's Mansion House speech.

Mr Hammond had barely started his address when the activists interrupted the black tie event in the City of London.

The disruption lasted several minutes before a slow hand clap broke out among the seated guests, and Mr Hammond got back to his feet at 9.05pm.

To a round of applause, Mr Hammond then said: "The irony of course is that this is the Government that has just led the world by committing to a zero-carbon economy by 2050."

Greenpeace later said 40 of its activists, some of whom wore red evening dresses with sashes that read "climate emergency" had interrupted the event, which was being broadcast live on television.

In a statement, Greenpeace UK climate campaigner Areeba Hamid said: "This is a climate emergency. Business as usual is no longer an option."