A former government adviser to Sir Tony Blair and Gordon Brown said it was a “privilege” to be arrested at a Palestine Action protest.

Sir Jonathon Porritt, 75, was previously chairman of the sustainable development commission, first set up by Sir Tony in 2000, and was one of Labour’s leading environmental advisers.

But the eco-expert said he was among more than 532 people arrested at a protest on Saturday in which activists called for a ban on proscribed terror group Palestine Action to be lifted. 

The group was added to the banned list earlier this year after members sabotaged an RAF aircraft.