Our Chief Correspondent, Alex Thomson, says that nine police officers and probably scores of protesters have been hurt in the continuing demonstrations in Parliament Square.
A seasonal detail here on today’s proceedings: the implement of choice for some protesters has been the Christmas tree bauble filled with paint. I have seen scores of these thrown today at riot police over several hours of disturbances in Parliament Square.
Up the road there was certainly an attempt to set fire to the famous Norwegian Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square. But that has been put out.
Close by, a group of protesters has invaded the National Gallery. They remain there in what must be the best-decorated student sit-in in history.
Behind me, opposite Parliament, a concerted attempt to smash windows and batter down the door of the Treasury. In a square bordered by Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the Supreme Court and the Treasury, if you attack a building, you are bound to hit comething of national significance.
Latest figures: Nine police injured – three seriously. And the protesters? Well, there will be scores of injuries and, as I write, at least 22 offences, mostly for violent disorder.
But what now? Well, speaker after speaker at the beginning of this rally stressed the importance of turning up the intensity of protest and disruption should the vote go against them. Now it has.