Extinction Revolt protesters laid a wreath about local weather change on the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day. (PA)

An Extinction Revolt (XR) activist has been criticised after he described the annual Remembrance Day as a “little ritual”.

Military veteran and XR member Donald Bell helped unveil a banner studying ‘Honour Their Sacrifice, Local weather Change Means Battle’ on the Cenotaph on Whitehall, in central London on Wednesday morning.

After the banner was displayed, Bell noticed a two-minute silence earlier than hanging a wreath of poppies bearing the message ‘act now’.

After a wave of criticism over the stunt – together with from Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer – Bell tried to defend his actions this morning.

Did Extinction Revolt disrespect our veterans?

XR member and Military veteran Donald Bell says XR staged a protest on the Cenotaph on Remembrance Day to ‘cease a warfare’.

Mr Bell was additionally challenged for describing the Remembrance service as a ‘little ritual’.@susannareid100 | #GMB pic.twitter.com/pjBxdabqXV

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 12, 2020

Donald Bell positioned the wreath about local weather change on the day that the warfare useless had been remembered. (PA)

However whereas chatting with ITV’s Good Morning Britain (GMB) present, Bell acquired additional criticism for describing Remembrance Day as a “little ritual”.

When it was put to him that Remembrance Day was “not about local weather change”, Bell responded: “These troopers gave their lives for our futures in order that we may dwell in peace.

“So when we’ve a authorities that ignores this local weather emergency that we’re in, their inaction is against the law.

“After they flip up there yearly for his or her little ritual, that may be a signal of disrespect so far as I am involved.”

When requested to make clear if he was referring to Remembrance Day, Bell added: “Sure. So far as the political facet of this nation is anxious, it is simply one thing they undergo yearly and I do not really feel they they actually respect that huge lack of life.”

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Watch: Extinction Revolt stage local weather change protest at Cenotaph

Bell, 64, who accomplished 4 excursions in Northern Eire in the course of the Troubles, had beforehand mentioned his actions had been in response to the federal government’s “Dad’s Military” method to defending the nation from local weather change.

Following Wednesday’s stunt, the prime minister’s spokesman mentioned: “The Cenotaph is a memorial to those that fought and died to protect all our freedoms.

“On right this moment, of all days, once we be a part of collectively to pay tribute to our warfare useless, this motion was profoundly disrespectful.”

Donald Bell for @XRebellionUK simply described Remembrance Day as a ‘little ritual’ on @GMB . To my 90 yr outdated father and the hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands who watch the Remembrance programmes on @BBCOne – Remembrance Day is NOT slightly ritual … @susannareid100 @benshephard

— Jonathan Shalit OBE (Hon Prof) (@jonathanshalit) November 12, 2020

Simply seen the person who hijacked the Cenotaph yesterday discuss with Remembrance Day dwell on TV as a “little ritual”!











It isn’t a “little ritual”! But extra shame for @XRebellionUK https://t.co/acB4xzhv2u

— Justin Allen (@justinallen1976) November 12, 2020

A spokesman for Labour chief Starmer added: “Nobody can doubt how severe the local weather emergency is, however the protests on the Cenotaph are mistaken.

“They’re in unhealthy style. We don’t help them.”

The Royal British Legion (RBL) additionally hit out on the group’s stunt, saying the day was not a time for political protest.

Donald Bell saluted the Cenotaph earlier than laying the local weather change wreath. (PA)

An RBL spokesman added: “Battle memorials and graves honour the reminiscence of each member of the Armed Forces who has made the final word sacrifice and need to be handled with the utmost respect.

Yahoo Information UK has contacted the RBL for a touch upon Bell’s GMB interview.

Watch: Extinction Revolt criticised fro ‘profoundly disrespectful’ protest at Cenotaph