Take Back Power describes itself as a non-violent civil-resistance group demanding the UK government establish a “permanent citizens’ assembly – a House of the People, which has the power to tax extreme wealth and fix Britain”.
Two of those who said they had taken part in the Tower of London protests defended their actions in statements made before the arrests.
Miriam Cranch, 21, a retail worker from Leeds, said: “Britain is broken because the super-rich are pocketing billions, whilst working people struggle to get by.
“This wealth inequality is leading us towards civil unrest, and it doesn’t have to be this way. Billionaires should not pay a lower tax rate on wealth they generate doing nothing than those of us working jobs. It’s time ordinary people get a say on how to tax wealth with a permanent House of the People.”
Zahra Ali, 19, a student from London, said: “Our country is crumbling before our eyes. We have homeless people dying on the very streets that King Charles passed on his way to the coronation, whilst there are more empty homes than unhoused people in this country.”
“It’s time the ultra-rich pay their fair share. We demand a permanent House of the People. It’s time to take back power, tax the rich and fix Britain.”
A Take Back Power spokesperson said: “Since 2011, the poorest 10 per cent of households have paid a combined tax rate of 44 per cent on their income and wealth gains, while the richest paid 22 per cent. Our political class, be it this government, Reform or Tory, serve the super-rich; they do not care about working people.
“That’s why we must demand real democracy, with ordinary people at the heart of decision making, through a citizen-led assembly that has the power to tax the rich.”
The Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “Four protesters have been arrested following criminal damage at the Tower of London. Police were called at 09:48hrs on Saturday, 6 December to the Tower of London following reports of criminal damage to a display case, containing the State Crown.
“It was reported that four protesters threw suspected food onto the case before two left the scene. Officers worked closely with City of London Police and security officers and four people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. They have been taken into custody. The Tower has been closed to the public while the police investigation continues.”
The Imperial State Crown is the state crown of the British monarch and is used at coronations and State Openings of Parliament.
Based on the design of Queen Victoria’s Crown of 1838, which had fallen into disrepair, it was made in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI.
It is adorned with 3,170 precious stones, including the 317-carat Cullinan II diamond, St Edward’s Sapphire, the Stuart Sapphire, and the Black Prince’s Ruby, a large red spinel.
On Wednesday afternoon, members of Take Back Power emptied bags of manure next to the 25ft Christmas tree in the lobby of the Ritz Hotel, in Piccadilly, in a demonstration against wealth inequality.
They were seen in footage posted on social media being swiftly removed by staff before sitting outside the hotel with signs reading “Inequality is s—. Tax the rich”.
Ellen Redwood-Brown, 23, an NHS worker involved in the action, 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 per cent of that wealth to fix Britain and we’d still have 156 billionaires. We must let ordinary people decide how to tax the rich.”
