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Protesters have scaled a crane opposite the Houses of Parliament to call for a referendum on the European treaty, in the third such stunt seen in the last week.
Days after green demonstrators mounted the roof of a British Airways plane at Heathrow and a separate group staged a rooftop protest at the House of Commons, two men climbed hundreds of feet late last night and were still there this morning.
Their banners, saying "Referendum Now" and "Give Us Our Vote", were aimed at forcing the Prime Minister to call for a referendum before adopting the European treaty, which they claim is merely a rebranding of the constitution.
Today's stunt comes ahead of Wednesday’s House of Commons vote on a Conservative proposal to hold a referendum.
However it appeared to be having little impact. As demonstrations are permitted in Parliament Square, which is not inside the Parliamentary estate, police say the pair are doing nothing illegal by protesting there and their only offence appeared to be trespassing on a crane.
A security source said that police officers were not concerned about the demonstration. "They'll come down when they get cold," the source said.
Philip Webster, Political Editor of The Times, said headline-grabbing protests like that seen today – along with the stunts of recent days – have little impact on public opinion.
"It is almost counter-productive, because it raises all kinds of wider issues on MPs' minds, such as security," he said.
"After the demonstration last week on the roof, there was only one MP who actually backed the protesters, and that was John McDonnell, whose constituency covers Heathrow.
"When protests like that seen today take place, the story ends up not being about Heathrow, for example, but about the security breach, or the stunt.
"What happened in Parliament Square this morning will have absolutely no impact on Wednesday's debate about a referendum."
One protester, calling himself Simon, who like his counterpart was wearing a fluorescent jacket and helmet, said today: "We want the Government to give the people of Britain a referendum like they promised they would. It’s a very simple request.
"It’s a question of democracy. All we are asking for is a vote on whether to ratify this treaty or not. It seems Gordon Brown doesn’t trust us enough to let us have a vote." They claimed to represent a group calling itself We Are Change.
Asked whether he backed their protest, the Conservative leader said he supported the protesters’ message but not their methods.
“No-one should break the law; that’s not right. But on the issue of a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the constitutional treaty, of course we should have one," David Cameron told Sky News.

Sam Coates's blog about Westminster, politics and spin
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the libdems are rightly depicted as yellow.May I suggest the tories take the same colour - or how about green,which would be the most apt,as most of us feel sick . All you apparatchicks of all shades have chosen a good time (US election furore) to bury the lousy news that,once again, you have , all of you, ratted on us yet again: no EU referendum.Play on. Janice Hill,Stockport, Cheshire.
I S Hill, Stockport, England
MPs are to vote on whether to debate the Lib Dems call for a referendum.
Instead of having a meeting about whether to have a meeting to decide if there should be a meeting, why not save a bunch of tax payers money, and just hold the referendum?
WS, Manchester,
To echo Alan's post - these people have not stated that they are anti-EU. They should be referred to as pro-democracy campaigners, or freedom fighters as they are struggling to allow the people of the UK to determine their own future rather than have it dictated to them by a small unaccountable clique.
Simon, Northallerton, N. Yorks
The police are leaving these men in peace because they have been mistreated in pay negotiations by the British Prime Minister; perhaps they also want a Referendum.
Tim C, Southern England, United Kingdom
If people don't make this sort of effort then nothing will ever change
bob, formby, england
Brown, you do not rule our country, you are an elected representative. The majority of the people want a referendum, and we WILL have one whether you like it or not.
Tessa, London,
Well done lads............its about time the goverment listened to the people.
shane, clitheroe, UK.
The majority pf people in this country do not want anything whatsoever to do with this absurd Eurofiasco, we were promised a referendum more than once, the present EU is an illegal organisation which does not have the CONSENT of a single population of any country involved.
The British people are simply being robbed by 'Theives in Suits', these criminals should all be brought to justice, tried for treason, suitably punished, and where appropriate, deported along with all other foreign criminals living here at our expense.
Clive Burghard , LANCING, ENGLAND
Yes, please kick the UK out of the EU. Then maybe we can start deporting terror suspects instead of being held hostage by some European Court in some distant country.
Phil, Oxford,
The British people will only be pushed so far, current Parliamentarians need to wake up! we do not want anything to do with this organisation that does not have the consent of anyone other than the rather dubious politicians who continue to promote this unwanted absurdity.
Clive Burghard , LANCING, ENGLAND
I think we should have a referendum on whether or not to have a referendum......
Colin, Wokingham, UK
I dream of being kicked out of Europe. Stop wasting billions on other Countrys and corrupt politicians.
Roger, Surrey,
We deserve to have our say - it is our country, and will directly affect us if this treaty is signed, handing power to the EU is not what the British people want - all we need is the oppertunity to voice our opinion rather than being lead blindly by lying politicians.
S Oldfield, Broadstone, Dorset
The best thing would be for the EU to kick the UK out of the EU, and be done with it, because the UK is only paying lipservice to the EU, and is not interested in becomeing a full member of the EU
A C Peake, Plouasne, France
Good for them. The referendum I'm more interested in is the next General Election. Although despotic juntas do tend to hold on to the last don't they.
Garley , London, UK
Your story,s title says "Anti EU protesters". Surely this is not necessarily true. Who said they were anti EU?. Just because they want what was promised. Surely all they , and we want is what we were told we would get, a referendum . What is Brown frightened of us seeing??
Alan, Chelmsford, UK