Wealth inequality activists caused a festive disturbance at an iconic London hotel by upending a bag of manure beneath the lobby’s Christmas tree.
Three supporters of the group Take Back Power produced plastic bags of manure and tipped them out under the tree in The Ritz Hotel lobby on Wednesday.
They were swiftly escorted out by staff and removed from the premises.
The trio held placards outside the hotel reading: “INEQUALITY IS S**T” and “TAX THE RICH.”
The group say they are a new nonviolent civil-resistance group calling on the UK government to establish a permanent citizen’s assembly that has the power to tax extreme wealth.
Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, an NHS worker and one of those taking action today, said: “The billionaires, corporations, and corrupt politicians running Britain don’t care about us.
“‘While working in the NHS, I’ve seen people dying because they couldn’t get appointments, whilst doctors are working 15-hour shifts.
“The UK has 156 billionaires. We could take away 75% of that wealth to fix Britain, and we’d still have 156 billionaires.
“We must let ordinary people decide how to tax the rich.”
Officers were called to reports of criminial damage at the hotel just after 12.15pm, Met Police said.
No arrests have been made, but an investigation is ongoing., they added.
A former doctor, journalist, and community worker from Nottingham, Tom Barber, 65, said: “Power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of obscenely wealthy and ruthless individuals.
“They are hell-bent on enriching themselves, forcing the gap between the haves and the have-nots ever wider.
“Every day, people must Take Back Power, compelling our government to create a permanent citizens’ assembly- a House of the People.
“Only then can we start making decisions for everyone’s benefit- taxing the rich, creating a fairer society and restoring our faith in our democracy.”
A Take Back Power spokesperson said: “The super-rich have more than doubled their wealth since the pandemic, while this Christmas, a third of UK children suffer and grow up in poverty.
“It’s time ordinary people- those most affected by inequality, get a say in deciding how to tax wealth through the means of a legally binding citizens’ assembly- a House of the People.”
A Met spokesperson said: “At around 12:14hrs on Wednesday, 3 December officers responded to reports of criminal damage at a hotel in Piccadilly, Mayfair.
“On arrival, officers found horse manure had been placed in the lobby, which is believed to have been part of a protest.
“No arrests have been made at this stage and the investigation is ongoing.
“Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 quoting CAD 3120/03Nov.”
