A pro-Palestine protester who climbed Big Ben barefoot and perched on the landmark for 17 hours has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Daniel Day, 30, triggered a major emergency response and road closures around Westminster when he scaled the Elizabeth Tower on March 8, 2025.
Costly protest and court proceedings
Southwark Crown Court heard Day cost the taxpayer at least £92,000 as he refused to come down and livestreamed his protest on Instagram while chanting "Free Palestine." On Monday, Judge Tony Baumgartner sentenced Day to 14 months in prison, suspended for two years. "This was well-planned offending and you knew precisely what you were doing," the judge said. "Foolishly you climbed a far way up the tower, far enough to cause very serious harm to you and possibly others if you fell."
The judge found Day had "little insight into your offending or any real remorse," but noted he had not reoffended since the incident and had strong personal mitigation, including failing eyesight. Day was ordered to attend up to 20 rehabilitation days and will be electronically monitored for four months as part of his suspended sentence.
Details of the climb
Day, who is unemployed, was found guilty at trial in June of intentionally or recklessly causing a public nuisance, and pleaded guilty to trespassing on a protected site—the Palace of Westminster and Portcullis House. The court heard Day clambered over railings and began his climb at 7:20am, having researched restoration of the tower. He wore thermals, brought a camera to livestream, and unfurled a Palestinian flag after reaching a ledge midway up the tower, staying there until around midnight. He took off his shoes, causing his feet to bleed onto the stonework, and Metropolitan Police officers had no option but to wait for him to come down.
Disruption and emergency response
As news spread, pro-Palestine supporters gathered in Parliament Square, and police assessed that Day was "being encouraged by having a gallery to play to," said prosecutor Jack Guise. In video clips played at trial, Day said: "We're being violently attacked by police for peaceful protest. That's why I'm taking action at the so-called hub of democracy today." He also shouted: "Listen, no police are to come anywhere near me. If you come too close, I'm going higher."
Police shut down Bridge Street, Westminster Bridge, cut off pedestrian access to Parliament Square, and set cordons on Whitehall and Victoria Embankment. "Much of this was entirely visible to Mr Day," said the prosecutor. "He could see the blocks, he could see what was happening to traffic, and he knew he had caused this." Mattresses were placed at the base of the tower as a safety measure.
Financial impact and prior offenses
Transport for London lost an estimated £25,000 in bus fares due to diversions, and more than 2,500 Parliament tours were cancelled at a cost of £67,000. Dozens of police officers were redeployed, a cherry picker was on-site, and firefighters and paramedics spent hours at the scene. Day, of Palmerston Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, had a conditional discharge in June 2024 for failing to remove a facial disguise and received £200 in fines in November 2024 for blocking a road during a protest. He hugged supporters in court after being released with a suspended term.
