Pro-Palestine activist spared jail after 17-hour barefoot Big Ben protest cost UK taxpayers £92,000

A pro-Palestinian activist has received a suspended prison sentence for a disruptive 17-hour protest atop London's iconic Elizabeth Tower, commonly known as Big Ben. Daniel Day, 30, was handed a 14-month sentence, suspended for two years, at Southwark Crown Court.

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This was well-planned offending, and you knew precisely what you were doing.

The protest, which took place on March 8, 2025, involved Day scaling the tower barefoot, unfurling a Palestinian flag, and livestreaming his actions. The stunt triggered a massive emergency response, including extensive security cordons, and incurred an estimated cost of £92,000 for the taxpayer through public expenditures and lost revenue.

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You, and people like you, must understand that, like everyone else, you are subject to the laws of this country. You and others like you do not get to decide which laws you will follow and which laws you will break. If that were to happen, the rule of law would break down.

Judge Tony Baumgartner described Day's actions as "well-planned offending," emphasizing that while strong principles are important, they do not grant a license to disregard the law. "You, and people like you, must understand that, like everyone else, you are subject to the laws of this country," the judge stated. He added that individuals cannot arbitrarily decide which laws to follow and which to break, as doing so would undermine the rule of law.

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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.

During the protest, Day, who is unemployed, bypassed security measures and climbed the tower, livestreaming his actions on Instagram and shouting slogans such as "Free Palestine." He also warned officers not to approach him, threatening to climb higher if they came too close. The court heard that Day had conducted meticulous research on the tower's restoration prior to his protest. His feet reportedly bled onto the stonework due to the prolonged exposure without shoes.

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Listen, no police are to come anywhere near me. If you come too close, I’m going higher. I’m here peacefully. I’m here to harm nobody.