Animal Rebellion protesters spray Westminster Palace walls near Big Ben with white paint in anti-dairy protest

The tower, which houses the famous Big Ben bell, appeared to escape any splatter but significant parts of the footpath and road were covered.

Animal Rebellion, an Extinction Rebellion-linked group that wants to end animal farming and fishing, staged the protest on the same day new United Kingdom Prime Minister Liz Truss was to front her first Prime Minister’s Questions, the UK equivalent of question time.

The group said the road had been blocked and Big Ben got “a new coat of white paint to represent the destruction and cruelty of the dairy industry”.

Some local media reported arrests had been made. The Met Police has been contacted for comment.