Parliament Square

2025-10-04T11:36:28Z

2A02:8071:2281:6D60:14E1:7EF4:85FA:BBC4:

{{Short description|Square in London, England}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
[[File:Parliament Square with Commonwealth flags (52880399947).jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.1|Parliament Square in 2023]]

'''Parliament Square''' is a [[town square|square]] at the northwest end of the [[Palace of Westminster]] in the [[City of Westminster]] in central [[London]], England. Laid out in the 19th century, it features a large open green area in the centre with trees to its west, and it contains twelve statues of statesmen and other notable individuals.

As well as being one of London's tourist attractions, it is also the place where many [[Demonstration (people)|demonstration]]s and protests have been held. The square is overlooked by various official buildings: legislature to the east (in the Houses of Parliament), governmental executive offices to the north (on [[Whitehall]]), the judiciary to the west (the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|Supreme Court]]), and the church to the south (with [[Westminster Abbey]]).

Parliament Square features all of the British flags, the [[List of United Kingdom flags|flags of the United Kingdom]], its [[Countries of the United Kingdom|four countries]],<ref name="Flags">{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/historic-county-flags-raised-in-day-of-national-celebration |title=Historic county flags raised in day of national celebration|date=23 July 2021 |website=Gov.uk |publisher=Gov.uk |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref> [[Counties of the United Kingdom|the county flags]]<ref name="Flags"/> and the [[List of national symbols of the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man|three flags]] of the [[Crown Dependencies]] and the [[Historical flags of the British Empire and the overseas territories|sixteen heraldic shields]] of the [[British Overseas Territories]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/overseas-territories-flags-flown-for-the-first-time-in-parliament-square |title=Overseas Territories flags flown for the first time in Parliament Square|date=31 October 2012 |website=Gov UK |publisher=Gov UK |access-date=13 July 2024}}</ref> Alongside all of the British flags, Parliament Square also has all of the [[Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations|56 flags]] of the [[Commonwealth of Nations]].

== Location ==
Buildings looking upon the square include the churches [[Westminster Abbey]] and [[St Margaret's, Westminster]], the [[Middlesex Guildhall]] which is the seat of the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]], [[Government Offices Great George Street]] serving [[HM Treasury]] and [[HM Revenue and Customs]], and [[Portcullis House]].

Roads that branch off the Parliament Square are St Margaret Street (towards [[Millbank]]), [[Broad Sanctuary]] (towards Victoria Street), [[Great George Street]] (towards [[Birdcage Walk]]), [[Parliament Street, London|Parliament Street]] (leading into [[Whitehall]]) and Bridge Street (leading onto [[Westminster Bridge]]).

== History ==
[[File:DISTRICT(1888) p118 - Westminster (map).jpg|thumb|right|Streets around Parliament Square in 1888]]

[[File:Parliament Square New Layout.jpg|thumb|220x220px|1949 proposed layout of Parliament Square with the former location of Buxton Memorial Fountain marked in red.]]

=== Original layout ===
Parliament Square was laid out in 1868 in order to open up the space around the [[Palace of Westminster]] and improve traffic flow, and featured London's first traffic signals. A substantial amount of property had to be cleared from the site. The architect responsible was Sir [[Charles Barry]]. Its original features included the [[Buxton Memorial Fountain]], which was removed in 1949 and placed in its present position in nearby [[Victoria Tower Gardens]] in 1957.

In 1949, the design for the replanning of the Parliament Square area, Westminster, London was carried out by the architect, [[George Grey Wornum]] (1888–1957).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ribapix.com/Design-for-the-replanning-of-the-Parliament-Square-area-Westminster-London_RIBA53372|title=Design for the replanning of the Parliament Square area, Westminster, London|website=RIBApix}}</ref>

=== Post Second World War changes ===
The plans to redesign the Square predated the Second World War as the [[Department for Transport|Ministry of Transport]] suggested:

<blockquote>that a larger central island was necessary to allow traffic more room in Great George Street. If the northern side of the central island were lengthened it was expected that the frequent traffic blocks at the junction of Parliament Street and Bridge Street with Parliament Square would be greatly reduced.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 November 1949 |title=Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill Debate |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1949-11-23/debates/2cebc59c-bb0f-4fc6-b25c-7d2ebd8bcc7e/ParliamentSquare(Improvements)Bill? |website=Hansard Parliament}}</ref></blockquote>

{{anchor|Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949}}
{{Infobox UK legislation
| short_title = Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949
| type = Act
| parliament = Parliament of the United Kingdom
| long_title = An Act to authorise certain improvements in and around Parliament Square, and for purposes connected therewith.
| year = 1949
| citation = 12, 13 & 14 Geo. 6. c. lvi
| introduced_commons =
| introduced_lords =
| territorial_extent =
| royal_assent = 16 December 1949
| commencement =
| expiry_date =
| repeal_date =
| amends =
| replaces =
| amendments =
| repealing_legislation =
| related_legislation =
| status =
| legislation_history =
| theyworkforyou =
| millbankhansard =
| original_text = https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukla/Geo6/12-13-14/56/pdfs/ukla_19490056_en.pdf
| revised_text =
| use_new_UK-LEG =
| UK-LEG_title =
| collapsed = yes
}}
Following the war, [[London County Council]] submitted a revised plan that was agreed by the Ministry of Transport and legislated for by Parliament with the Parliament Square (Improvements) Act 1949.The Act was required due to the mixed ownership of the land. The redesign included putting new roads, pavement and gardens in the area.

As St George Street{{Fix|text=Great George Street?}} was widened and an existing road was moved, the [[Buxton Memorial Fountain]] had to be removed. Because Victorian style architecture was unpopular at the time, some in Parliament argued it should never be re-erected: at least one parliamentarian said it had "no artistic merit whatever"<ref>{{cite web |title=Parliament Square (Improvements) Bill |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/1949-11-23/debates/2cebc59c-bb0f-4fc6-b25c-7d2ebd8bcc7e/ParliamentSquare(Improvements)Bill? |website=Hansard UK Parliament |date=23 November 1949}}</ref> The Act provided that the fountain could be removed, but required its re-erection.

The central garden of the square was transferred from the [[Parliamentary Estate]] to the control of the [[Greater London Authority]] by the [[Greater London Authority Act 1999]]. It has responsibility to light, cleanse, water, pave, and repair the garden, and has powers to make [[bylaw]]s for the garden.

== Public demonstrations ==
The east side of the square, lying opposite one of the main entrances to the Palace of Westminster, has historically been a common site of protest against government action or inaction. On [[May Day]] 2000 the square was transformed into a giant [[Allotment (gardening)|allotment]] by a [[Reclaim the Streets]] [[guerrilla gardening]] action. Most recently, [[Brian Haw]] staged a continual protest there for several years, campaigning against [[2003 invasion of Iraq|British and American action]] in [[Iraq]]. Starting on 2 June 2001, Haw left his post only once, on 10 May 2004 – and then because he had been arrested on the charge of failing to leave the area during a security alert – and returned the following day when he was released. The alleged disruption caused by Haw's protest led Parliament to insert a clause into the [[Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005]] making it illegal to protest in Parliament Square (or, indeed, in a large area reaching roughly half a mile in all directions) without first seeking{{Fix|text=obtaining?}} the permission of the [[Metropolitan Police Commissioner]].

The provisions of that Act relating to Parliament Square were repealed by the [[Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011]], which provides for a different regime of "prohibited activities".<ref>The law and history on protest around Parliament, including the ban that was enforced under SOCPA and the narrower restrictions under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011 are analysed in an article on protest in Parliament Square. Kiron Reid 'Letting Down the Drawbridge: Restoration of the Right to Protest at Parliament'. (2013) 1 Law Crime and History 16 (pp. 16–51) (Internet (free access)). {{ISSN|2045-9238}}. [https://archive.today/20130620022023/http://www.pbs.plymouth.ac.uk/solon/hjournal2013Vol3.html] The file is a pdf.</ref>

As well as sparking a great deal of protest from various groups on the grounds of infringement of [[civil liberties]] including the [[European Convention on Human Rights]], the Act{{Fix|text=2005 or 2011?}} was initially unsuccessful in accomplishing its goals: Brian Haw was held to be exempt from needing authorisation in a High Court ruling, as his protest had started before the Act came into effect (though any new protests would be covered); Haw remained in Parliament Square. Later, the Court of Appeal overturned this ruling, forcing Haw to apply for police authorisation to continue his protest.

==Statues==

The Parliament Square is home to twelve statues of [[British People|British]], [[the Commonwealth|Commonwealth]], and [[Anglosphere]] political figures. They are listed here in anti-clockwise order, beginning with Winston Churchill's statue, which faces Parliament.
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! class="unsortable" | Image
! style="width:12%;"| Subject
! style="width:10%;"| Location
! style="width:10%;"| Sculptor
! style="width:7%"| Date of unveiling
! class="unsortable" | Notes
! style="width:7%"| Listing
|-
| [[File:Winston Churchill, Parliament Square, London (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Churchill|[[Winston Churchill]]}} 
Prime Minister 1940–1945 and 1951–1955
| {{sort|01|North-eastern edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5008|-0.1265|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Winston Churchill}}
| {{sort|Roberts-Jones|[[Ivor Roberts-Jones]]}}
| {{sort|08|1 November 1973}}
| {{main|Statue of Winston Churchill, Parliament Square}}
Unveiled by [[Clementine Churchill|Clementine, Baroness Spencer-Churchill]]. Churchill indicated his desire for a statue of himself in this spot when Parliament Square was redeveloped in the 1950s.<ref>{{cite news |last=Howard |first=Philip |title=Resolute and defiant as ever, Churchill's statue is revealed |newspaper=The Times |date=2 November 1973}}</ref> Roberts-Jones's initial versions of the statue were felt to bear too close a resemblance to Benito Mussolini.<ref>{{cite news |title=Winston Churchill's statue 'had a look of Mussolini' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1450683/Winston-Churchills-statue-had-a-look-of-Mussolini.html |access-date=23 September 2011 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=1 January 2004}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:LloydGeorgeStatueParliamentSq.JPG|100px]]
! {{sort|Lloyd George|[[David Lloyd George]]}} 
Prime Minister 1916–1922
| {{sort|02|Northern edge of the green}}
| {{sort|Williams|[[Glynn Williams]]}}
| {{sort|10|25 November 2007}}
| {{Main|Statue of David Lloyd George, Parliament Square}}
Unveiled by the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall. Stands on a plinth of slate from [[Penrhyn Quarry]], North Wales.<ref>{{cite news|title= Lloyd George statue 'is a disgrace'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lloyd-georges-statue-is-a-disgrace-397961.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/lloyd-georges-statue-is-a-disgrace-397961.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=30 September 2011 |newspaper=The Independent |date=26 October 2007}}</ref>
| {{center|—}}
|-
| [[File:Jan Christian Smuts statue Parliament Square.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Smuts|[[Jan Smuts]]}} 
Prime Minister of South Africa 1919–1924 and 1939–1948
| {{sort|03|Northern edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5009|-0.1269|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Jan Smuts}}
| {{sort|Epstein|Sir [[Jacob Epstein]]}}
| {{sort|07|7 November 1956}}
| {{Main|Statue of Jan Smuts, Parliament Square}}
Winston Churchill, on his return to power in 1951, wished to erect a statue to Smuts; he was, however, unable to perform the unveiling due to illness. The pedestal is of granite from South Africa.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ward-Jackson|2011|pp=206–10}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Palmerston statue Parliament Square.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Palmerston|[[Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston]]}} 
Prime Minister 1855–1858 and 1859–1865
| {{sort|04|North-western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5009|-0.1271|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Viscount Palmerston}}
| {{sort|Woolner|[[Thomas Woolner]]}}
| {{sort|03|2 February 1876}}
| {{Main|Statue of Lord Palmerston, Parliament Square}}
Palmerston is portrayed in middle age, before he became prime minister. The pedestal departs from the "Gothic" model of the nearby statues of Derby and Peel.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ward-Jackson|2011|pp=195–97}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Earl of Derby (16543860247).jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Derby|[[Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby]]}} 
Prime Minister 1852, 1858–1859 and 1866–1868
| {{sort|05|North-western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5008|-0.1273|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Earl of Derby}}
| {{sort|Noble|[[Matthew Noble]]}}
| {{sort|02|11 July 1874}}
| {{Main|Statue of the Earl of Derby, Parliament Square}}
Derby is represented wearing his robes as Chancellor of Oxford University. The bronze reliefs around the pedestal depicting scenes from his life were executed by Noble's assistant, Horace Montford.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ward-Jackson|2011|p=192}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Benjamin Disraeli monument.JPG|100px]]
! {{sort|Disraeli|[[Benjamin Disraeli|Benjamin Disraeli, 1st Earl of Beaconsfield]]}} 
Prime Minister 1868 and 1874–1880
| {{sort|06|Western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5006|-0.1273|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Benjamin Disraeli}}
| {{sort|Raggi|[[Mario Raggi]]}}
| {{sort|05|19 April 1883}}
| {{Main|Statue of Benjamin Disraeli, Parliament Square}}
The statue was the "shrine" of the [[Primrose League]], a conservative association established in Disraeli's memory, who left wreaths in front of it every year on "[[Primrose Day]]", the anniversary of his death.<ref>{{Harvnb|Ward-Jackson|2011|pp=200–03}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Peel statue Parliament Square.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Peel|Sir [[Robert Peel]]}} 
Prime Minister 1834–1835 and 1841–1846
| {{sort|07|Western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5005|-0.1273|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Sir Robert Peel}}
| {{sort|Noble|[[Matthew Noble]]}}
| {{sort|04|1877}}
| {{main|Statue of Robert Peel, Parliament Square}}
Initially a statue of Peel was commissioned from [[Carlo Marochetti]]. This was ready by 1853 but was considered to be far too large. Marochetti produced a smaller work which was placed at the entrance to New Palace Yard; this was removed in 1868 and melted down in 1874.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Noble,_Matthew_(bap._1817,_d._1876),_sculptor |title=Noble, Matthew (bap. 1817, d. 1876), sculptor |work=Your Archives |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=23 October 2011 |archive-date=4 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111204144349/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=Noble,_Matthew_(bap._1817,_d._1876),_sculptor |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Statue of George Canning, Parliament Square, London.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Canning|[[George Canning]]}} 
Foreign Secretary 1807–1809 and 1822–1827; Prime Minister 1827
| {{sort|08|At the square's junction with Great George Street}} 
{{Coord|51.5010|-0.1277|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=George Canning}}
| {{sort|Westmacott|Sir [[Richard Westmacott]]}}
| {{sort|01|2 May 1832}}
| {{main|Statue of George Canning, Parliament Square}}
Originally erected in New Palace Yard; in its current location since 1949. The features are based on the portrait bust of Canning by Sir [[Francis Leggatt Chantrey|Francis Chantrey]], who was "not at all pleased with the preference shewn to Mr. Westmacott".<ref>{{Harvnb|Ward-Jackson|2011|pp=190–92}}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Abraham lincoln memorial london 20050523.jpg|100px]]{{anchor|Lincoln}}
! {{sort|Lincoln|[[Abraham Lincoln]]}} 
President of the United States 1861–1865
| {{sort|09|In front of the Middlesex Guildhall}} 
{{Coord|51.5006|-0.1278|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Abraham Lincoln}}
| {{sort|Saint-Gaudens|[[Augustus Saint-Gaudens]]}}
| {{sort|06|July 1920}}
| {{main|Abraham Lincoln: The Man}}
A recasting of the statue in [[Lincoln Park]], [[Chicago]]. This statue was unveiled by [[Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn|Prince Arthur]], Duke of Connaught, after being ceremonially presented by the American ambassador and accepted by Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]]. Initially the statue was to be erected in 1914, but this was postponed. By that time some favoured an alternative statue by [[George Grey Barnard]], which was eventually erected in Manchester.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=The_statue_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_Parliament_Square |title=The statue of Abraham Lincoln in Parliament Square |work=Your Archives |publisher=The National Archives |access-date=7 October 2011 |archive-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612122110/http://yourarchives.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php?title=The_statue_of_Abraham_Lincoln_in_Parliament_Square |url-status=dead }}</ref>
! {{Grade II colour}}| {{sort|3|Grade II}}
|-
| [[File:Nelson Mandela statue Parliament Square.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Mandela|[[Nelson Mandela]]}} 
President of South Africa 1994–1999
| {{sort|10|South-western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.5008|-0.1265|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Winston Churchill}}
| {{sort|Walters|[[Ian Walters]]}}
| {{sort|09|29 August 2007}}
| {{main|Statue of Nelson Mandela, Parliament Square}}
Westminster Council had earlier refused permission for placing the statue in Trafalgar Square adjacent to [[High Commission of South Africa, London|South Africa House]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6967927.stm |title=London Mandela statue for Parliament Sq |publisher=BBC News |date=29 August 2007 |access-date=30 September 2011}}</ref> The statue was unveiled by Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] in the presence of [[Wendy Woods]], the widow of [[Donald Woods]], a late anti-apartheid campaigner, and the British actor, director and long-time friend of Woods, [[Richard Attenborough]].
| {{center|—}}
|-
| [[File:Gandhi statue 2.jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Gandhi|[[Mahatma Gandhi]]}} 
Indian Independence Leader
| {{sort|07|Western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.50057|-0.12724|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Mahatma Gandhi}}
| {{sort|Jackson|[[Philip Jackson (sculptor)|Philip Jackson]]}}
| {{sort|11|14 March 2015}}
| {{main|Statue of Mahatma Gandhi, Parliament Square}}
The statue of the [[Indian independence movement]] leader [[Mahatma Gandhi]] is based on a photograph of Gandhi standing outside the offices of [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[Ramsay MacDonald]] in 1931.<ref name=gan>{{cite news|author=James Dunn |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gandhi-joins-churchill-statues-of-old-enemies-sidebyside-in-parliament-square-10108362.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/gandhi-joins-churchill-statues-of-old-enemies-sidebyside-in-parliament-square-10108362.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gandhi statue unveiled in Parliament Square – next to his old enemy Churchill |work=The Independent |date=14 March 2015 |access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> It was unveiled by [[India]]n [[Minister of Finance (India)|Finance Minister]] [[Arun Jaitley]] on 14 March 2015. The statue was dedicated as a commemoration of the centennial of Gandhi's return to India from [[South Africa]], which is generally regarded as the commencement of his efforts for Indian independence. Speakers at the unveiling of the statue included [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] [[David Cameron]], Indian film star [[Amitabh Bachchan]] and Gandhi's grandson [[Gopalkrishna Gandhi]].<ref name=gan/>
| {{center|—}}
|-
| [[File:Millicent Fawcett Statue 02 - Courage Calls (27810755638) (cropped).jpg|100px]]
! {{sort|Fawcett|[[Dame Millicent Fawcett|Millicent Fawcett]]}} Campaigner for women's suffrage
| {{sort|05|North-western edge of the green}} 
{{Coord|51.50083|-0.12738|type:landmark_region:GB-WSM|name=Millicent Fawcett}}
| {{sort|Wearing|[[Gillian Wearing]]}}
| {{sort|12|24 April 2018}}
| {{main|Statue of Millicent Fawcett}}
Erected in conjunction with the centenary of [[Representation of the People Act 1918|women being granted the vote]] in the UK, following a campaign led by [[Caroline Criado-Perez]], this is the first statue of a woman to be included in Parliament Square.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-43868925|title=Millicent Fawcett: Statue of suffragist unveiled|date=24 April 2018|work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> It is by [[Gillian Wearing]], making her the first woman to create a statue that stands in Parliament Square. Dame Millicent was a prominent leader during the [[Women's suffrage in the United Kingdom|campaign for women's suffrage]], serving as president of the [[National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies]] for more than twenty years, as well as co-founding [[Newnham College, Cambridge]]. This statue depicts her as a 50-year-old, the age at which she became president of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies. The banner her statue holds reads: "Courage Calls to Courage Everywhere", an extract from a speech she made after the death of suffragette [[Emily Wilding Davison]].
| {{center|—}}
|}

==Demonstrations==
The [[Parliament Square Peace Campaign]] was a [[peace]] campaign started by [[Brian Haw]] in 2001 and carried on by [[Barbara Grace Tucker|Barbara Tucker]] until 2013.<ref name="BBC dies">{{cite news|title=Parliament Square peace campaigner Brian Haw dies|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13828800|access-date=19 June 2011|publisher=BBC|date=19 June 2011}}</ref><ref>[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/peace-at-last-final-anti-war-protesters-leave-parliament-square-after-12-years-8608893.html Peace at last! Final anti-war protesters leave Parliament Square after 12 years] 9 May 2013 standard.co.uk</ref>

In May 2010, a peace camp known as Democracy Village was set up on the square to protest (initially) against the British government's involvement in invasions in the [[Middle East]], which became an eclectic movement encompassing left-wing causes and anti-globalisation protests.

The [[Mayor of London]] [[Boris Johnson]] appealed to the courts to have them removed and, after demonstrators lost an appeal in July 2010, [[David Neuberger, Baron Neuberger of Abbotsbury|Lord Neuberger]] ruled that the protesters camping on the square should be evicted.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10659518 |title=Parliament Square protesters lose eviction appeal – BBC News |publisher=BBC |date=16 July 2010 |access-date=4 May 2017}}</ref> The final tents were removed in January 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Parliament protest camp removed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-16587406 |access-date=3 December 2018 |publisher=BBC News |date=17 January 2012}}</ref>

On 9 August 2025, a large demonstration in support of [[Palestine Action]] was held at Parliament Square.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Rossiter |first1=Emma |last2=Hale |first2=Adam |last3=McCamley |first3=Frankie |date=9 August 2025 |title=Police arrest 474 at Palestine Action ban protest |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c8de6rq37v5o |access-date=9 August 2025 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> When [[Big Ben]] chimed 1 p.m. during the protest, large numbers of demonstrators revealed signs which read "I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action", leading to the arrest of 532 people<ref name="bbc-08-10">{{Cite web |date=10 August 2025 |title=Palestine Action protest arrests rise to more than 500 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjyyzlwk2go |access-date=10 August 2025 |website=www.bbc.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>—the largest made by the [[Metropolitan Police]] on a single day in the previous 10 years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/08/09/palestine-action-protests-live-israel-gaza-war-police/ |title=Palestine Action: Hundreds arrested at march protesting group ban in London |quote=Moazzam Begg, the former Guantanamo Bay detainee, was among those holding... |work=www.telegraph.co.uk |date=9 August 2025 |access-date=12 August 2025}}</ref>

==Panorama==
{{Panorama
| image = File:Parliament square 360.jpg
| fullwidth = 25000
| fullheight = 5185
| caption = Panoramic view from the centre of Parliament Square in June 2009 (left to right): Government offices; the [[Elizabeth Tower]] and the [[Palace of Westminster]]; [[St Margaret's, Westminster|St Margaret's]] and [[Westminster Abbey]]; [[Middlesex Guildhall]] of the Supreme Court.
| height = 230
}}

==References==
;Citations
{{Reflist}}

;Bibliography
* {{cite book
| last = Ward-Jackson | first = Philip
| year = 2011
| title = Public Sculpture of Historic Westminster: Volume 1
| series = [[Public Monuments and Sculpture Association|Public Sculpture of Britain]]
| location = Liverpool
| publisher = Liverpool University Press
}}

==Further reading==
* Simon Bradley and [[Nikolaus Pevsner]], ''[[The Buildings of England]], London 6: Westminster'' (2003). {{ISBN|0-300-09595-3}}.

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Parliament Square, London}}
{{GeoGroup}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20190303023345/http://www.parliament-square.org.uk/ Parliament Square Peace Campaign website]
*[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2011/13/part/3/enacted Specifically prohibited activities : Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011. Part 3: Parliament Square Garden and surrounding area]

{{Parliament Square}}
{{London landmarks}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|51|30|02|N|0|07|36|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=title}}

[[Category:Parliament Square| ]]
[[Category:1868 establishments in England]]
[[Category:National squares]]
[[Category:Parliament of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Road junctions in London]]

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Parliament Square