Some MPs were delayed on their way to work, including Adam Afriyie, a long-standing opponent of plans to expand Heathrow, who was set to ask a question to the Transport Secretary about the carbon cost of a third runway.

Mr Afriyie was held up as he travelled to Parliament on his electric vehicle, and said he was “absolutely apoplectic” to miss the debate, describing the activists as “reprobates”. 

A spokesman for the Stop Heathrow Expansion group said: “Perhaps it never occurred to these people that these sorts of actions could actually have exactly the opposite impact to which they desire.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, said: “Once again these people are blocking democracy, and the fact that people are actually talking about the same issues and being blocked from doing so is totally counter-productive.”

Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said: “Preventing members from getting into the chamber … is completely unacceptable.”

The Telegraph understands that the roads around Westminster are neither part of the strategic road network, nor the roads covered by Transport for London’s injunction against Insulate Britain.