Philip Hammond speech gatecrashed by dozens of Greenpeace protesters

A group of climate change protesters have disrupted the Chancellor's speech at the annual Mansion House dinner.

Environmental campaign group Greenpeace said 40 of its volunteers, in red evening dress with sashes that read "climate emergency", gatecrashed Philip Hammond's speech in the Egyptian Hall.

Mr Hammond had barely started his address when the activists interrupted the black tie event in the City of London.

The disruption lasted several minutes before a slow hand clap broke out among the seated guests.

During the unrest, Tory MP Mark Field was seen pushing a protester against a pillar, before grabbing her and leading her out of the venue by the neck.

Labour MP Dawn Butler has described footage of the incident as "horrific", calling for Mr Field to be "immediately suspended or sacked".

Once the disruption had ended, Mr Hammond said: "The irony of course is that this is the government that has just led the world by committing to a zero-carbon economy by 2050."

Areeba Hamid, climate campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said: "This is a climate emergency. Business as usual is no longer an option.

"The real bottom line, the priority that needs to come before all others, is not profit, revenue or growth, but survival.

"That needs to be recognised in every boardroom and on every balance sheet, starting with the chancellor's.

"The people in this room have been funding climate change, and we're not giving the banks and hedge funds a pass for their unethical investment decisions anymore.

"The Treasury is the government's banker. It plays the same role propping up vested interests and blocking progress on climate change."