The radical activist group that recently targeted the Crown Jewels with custard has now declared its intention to organise a mass shoplifting event at Waitrose this spring. Take Back Power (TBP), positioning itself as the successor to Just Stop Oil, vows to steal from upmarket supermarkets and redistribute the goods to those in need, in a dramatic protest against economic disparity.
From Crown Jewels to Supermarket Aisles: A Strategy of Disruption
Take Back Power formally launched its campaign at Limehouse Town Hall in east London on Saturday. The group, which describes itself as a nonviolent civil-resistance movement, demands the UK government establish a permanent citizen's assembly with the power to tax extreme wealth. They accuse the 'super-rich' of driving the country towards social collapse.
A leading organiser is Arthur Clifton, 25, who was privately educated at the elite Latymer Upper School, where fees exceed £30,000 annually. Addressing an audience of around 200, Clifton stated, 'We have seen that food is locked behind skyrocketing prices. Less and less people can afford less and less food.' He announced plans for a 'week of action' in April, involving 50 to 100 people entering and 'clearing out a Waitrose' in London. The group also intends to target high-end stores in areas like Oxford Circus.
Funding and Arrests: The Backdrop to the Protests
The group's activities are backed by significant funding. An online fundraiser for campaigns to 'tackle economic inequality' has raised £56,000. Their budget allocates £26,000 for public meetings and training in eight cities from January to March, £20,000 to compensate members for actions, and further sums for accommodation, travel, and equipment.
This announcement follows a series of high-profile stunts. In December, four people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after activists smeared apple crumble and custard over the glass case housing the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London. They unfurled a banner reading 'democracy has crumbled, tax the rich'. Just days prior, the group emptied bags of manure under the Christmas tree at The Ritz in Mayfair, protesting the 'obscenely wealthy'. Take Back Power also projected messages onto the Houses of Parliament to mark its official launch.
Personal Backgrounds and Wider Implications
The background of key figures has drawn attention. Arthur Clifton grew up in an upmarket West London property; his father, Michael Clifton, 58, is a senior executive at international insurance brokers Chaucer. The group claims its ranks include an NHS worker and a former doctor, highlighting a diverse membership united by their cause.
With a clear strategy for further disruption and substantial resources, Take Back Power is signalling a new phase of direct action focused on wealth redistribution. Their planned supermarket interventions are set to test police responses and provoke fresh debate on poverty, protest, and privilege in the UK.
