Protesters unfurl banner at UK Parliament demanding reparations for colonialism

Police arrest three demonstrators who scaled Palace of Westminster

Protesters unfurl a message on the Houses of Parliament. Daniel Bailey (@DaJoBa)/Twitter

Anti-colonialism protesters scaled the Houses of Parliament, unfurling a banner demanding reparations for the former British Empire’s links to slavery in Africa.

The protesters managed to gain access to scaffolding on the outside of Parliament shortly after 6am.

The group unravelled a banner with a demand that the UK “heal the wrongs of the past and dismantle the racism of the present”.

“Britain was the largest coloniser in Africa and across the globe,” read the letter from Action for Climate Truth and Reparations.

“It benefitted [sic] from and perpetuated the slave trade and thus owns a particular responsibility to redress the contributions of the past."

Among the demands are reparations including the clearing of African debt.

Witnesses suggested the protesters gained access to the site via the River Thames.

Police said three protesters were arrested shortly after 11am. They are likely to be charged later on Thursday.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the banner had since been taken down.