CLIMATE campaigners dressed as suffragettes outside the National Gallery today against anti-protest laws ahead of International Women’s Day.

The Fossil Free London group’s action took place ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday, drawing attention to the tightening of anti-protest laws.

They held placards highlighting comparisons between the jail terms received by climate protesters and those handed to militant suffragettes in the early 20th century.

Just Stop Oil activists Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland were sentenced to a combined 44 months in prison for throwing soup in the National Gallery in 2022.

They caused minor damage to the frame of Van Gogh’s Sunflowers painting.

Their action recalled the famous National Gallery protest by militant suffragette Mary Richardson, arrested for slashing Velazquez’s Rokeby Venus.

She was sentenced to a considerably shorter time of six months in prison.

The right to protest has been systematically reduced in recent years under the draconian Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act as well as the Public Order Act.

Fossil Free London director Robin Wells said: “In 1906 Suffragettes were called criminals; locked up for fighting for their right to vote.

“Now, they’re rightly celebrated. But their modern counterparts — the women leading the climate movement — face harsher penalties than 1906.

“The government says they’re acting on climate. Then they approve third runways and subsidies, and hint at waving through carbon bomb oil projects like Rosebank.

“We, women campaigners of today, mean to celebrate the Suffragettes by continuing in their fight.

“Heed our clarion call, the same as our sisters from the past: deeds not words. Deeds on climate! Defend people, protect our one home and Stop Rosebank!

“Deeds on our right to protest! Repeal the Public Order Act 2023!”