A man from Perthshire was one of two eco-activists arrested in London after smearing chocolate cake on the face of a King Charles wax figure at Madame Tussauds.
Just Stop Oil supporter Tom Johnson (29) shocked onlookers on Monday after stepping over the rope barrier and committing the act at around 10.50am before taking off his top to reveal a ‘Just Stop Oil’ t-shirt.
The painter and decorator from Dunkeld was joined in the sabotage by fellow supporter Eilidh McFadden from Glasgow. They were demanding that the government halts all new oil and gas licences and consents.
Tom already rose to notoriety two weeks ago after he and his brother Dan were arrested for scaling a police van outside Downing Street.
At Madame Tussauds on Monday, Tom and Eilidh made this statement: “We are here because we seek to protect our freedoms and rights, because we seek to protect this green and pleasant land which is the inheritance of us all.
“Last year at COP26 in Glasgow, Queen Elizabeth said: ‘The time for words has moved to the time for action!’
“Her successor King Charles III – on the continued heating of our world has said: ‘We are feeling the effects of all of this now, and disasters are increasing with terrifying frequency and intensity, and causing unprecedented levels of physical and economic damage’.
“No nation, no region and no population will be inured from the impacts of food, water and energy insecurity, and the resulting economic and political insecurity that arise from our seeming utter determination quite literally to test this planet to destruction.
“In every sector of the economy there are solutions available now.
“For the past, what, 40-50 years I have been driven by an overwhelming desire not to be confronted by my grandchildren – or yours, ladies and gentlemen, whom I mind about equally as much – demanding to know why I didn’t do anything to prevent them being bequeathed a poisoned and destroyed planet.
“The science is clear. The demand is simple: just stop new oil and gas.
“It’s a piece of cake”.
The action takes place a few weeks ahead of COP27 which King Charles III has reportedly abandoned plans to attend, on the advice of the then Prime Minister Liz Truss.
It follows three weeks of continuous civil resistance by supporters of Just Stop Oil during which the police have made 574 arrests.
Since the campaign began on April 1, Just Stop Oil supporters have been arrested 1880 times, with seven supporters currently in prison.
Just Stop Oil supporters have vowed to continue the disruption in the capital for at least a month, saying they are nonviolently resisting the government’s plans to licence over 100 new oil and gas projects by 2025, and its failure to fulfil its promise to help people with their skyrocketing energy bills.
A Madame Tussauds London’s spokesperson said: “At approximately 10.50am protesters entered the ‘World Stage’ Zone at Madame Tussauds London and appeared to throw what is believed to be cake at our figures of The Royal Family.
“Our security team dealt with the incident quickly and we are working closely with the Metropolitan Police on this matter. The attraction remains open, with our Royal Family set closed temporarily.”
