Activists vandalize Crown Jewels with 'crumble and custard' in protest of high taxes

On Saturday, the Tower of London became the site of an unusual protest when activists threw crumble and custard at the display case housing the Crown Jewels. Four individuals were detained after police responded to reports of the incident shortly before 10 a.m.

The food was aimed at the case containing the State Crown, one of the most iconic pieces among the Crown Jewels. The group behind the protest is believed to be Take Back Power, a collective advocating for tax reform and greater citizen influence in government.

Footage from the event showed protesters holding a banner stating, "Democracy has crumbled tax the rich."

Take Back Power describes itself as a non-violent civil resistance organization calling for a permanent citizen-led assembly in the UK, granting ordinary people the authority to levy taxes on extreme wealth and address economic inequality.

Two participants explained their motivations before being arrested. Miriam Cranch, 21, a retail worker from Leeds, said, "Britain is broken because the super-rich are accumulating massive wealth while ordinary workers struggle. Wealth inequality is pushing us toward unrest, and billionaires should not enjoy lower tax rates than those who earn their living through work. A House of the People should decide on fair taxation."

Zahra Ali, 19, a London student, added, "We see homelessness rising while empty homes stand unused. It's time for the ultra-wealthy to contribute their fair share. Citizens must have a voice in shaping taxation."

A Take Back Power spokesperson highlighted economic disparities, stating that since 2011, the poorest 10% of households have shouldered 44% of their income and wealth in taxes, compared to 22% for the richest. They called for a citizen assembly to ensure policies prioritize ordinary people rather than the wealthy elite.

The group has also staged previous demonstrations, including placing manure near a large Christmas tree at the Ritz Hotel to protest wealth inequality. Participants displayed signs declaring, "Inequality is sh-t. Tax the rich." Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, an NHS worker involved in that protest, emphasized that significant billionaire wealth could be redistributed without eliminating the existence of the wealthy class.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrests, noting: "Four protesters have been detained for criminal damage at the Tower of London. The incident involved suspected food thrown on a display case containing the State Crown. The Jewel House remains closed while the investigation continues."

Author: Maya Henderson