ACTIVISTS with This is Rigged have thrown a “Christmas party” in the foyer of the Tesco Bank offices in Glasgow.
The group said that 12 people have occupied the offices and that they have been eating mince pies and pulling Christmas crackers.
They also held up a banner taking aim at Tesco CEO Ken Murphy, describing him as the “real Scrooge”.
The group said it has issued two new demands – that supermarkets reduce the prices of baby products to March 2021 prices and that the Scottish Government fund a community food hub per every 500 households.
This is Rigged has also vowed to escalate the action it is taking until their demands are met.
Hannah Bright, a community worker based in Glasgow who took action, said: “Supermarkets sell us this shiny ideal of Christmas that we can’t even afford… blatant greed and profiteering is unacceptable whatever the time of year.
“It is crucial that we stand by our communities, and refuse to be at the mercy of cartoon villains like Ken Murphy who profit of our misery.
“Food hubs would give us the dignity and basic security we all deserve – it’s the bare minimum, a warm space where any of us can access a meal.
“Until such time as we get these spaces, we’ll have to keep throwing our parties in a Tesco bank.”
A Tesco Bank spokesperson said: "The police are assisting us with an incident in the reception area of our Glasgow office."
A spokesperson for Police Scotland meanwhile said: "Police were made aware of a protest in Renfield Street, Glasgow around 11am on Thursday, December 14 2023.
"Officers are in attendance."
Eilidh McFadden, 21, is an education student based in Lochaber and was also among those to join the protest.
She said: "When business as usual is children being rushed to hospital in ambulances because of malnutrition we will continue to disrupt the status quo."
We previously told of a "bleak" report released by Citizens Advice Scotland which warned one in six Scots are seeking advice for food insecurity.
The organisation warned of a “direct link” between unaffordable energy bills and people not having reliable access to healthy food.
