Women 'poured porridge over Queen Victoria bust and sprayed 'c***' in protest

03 March 2024 , 23:12

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The porridge and jam being smothered on the bust (Image: This is Rigged)

A pair of activists who defaced a bust of Queen Victoria with porridge and jam before writing an offensive word on the plinth have been charged.

Sorcha Ni Mhairtin, 30, and Hannah Taylor, 23 from This Is Rigged carried out the actions around midday at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, before reportedly gluing themselves to the plinth. The group said the two women attacked the statue to “draw the public’s attention to the extreme cost of living crisis” and to protest against increasing food insecurity.

Sorcha, an Irish activist and community food worker in Glasgow, said: “We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian era. Diseases of starvation including scurvy and rickets are on the rise.

“Freedom begins with breakfast and if you can’t understand that, we’ll shove it in your face. Food is a human right, and we call out the rotten systems under which we are suffering.”

"Other stunts carried out by the group this year include occupying the royal dining room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse. This is Rigged has said it will continue to carry out similar actions until its demands are met, which include supermarkets reducing the price of baby formula to March 2021 prices and the Scottish Government funding and implementing a community food hub in every 500 households in Scotland.

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The incident happened at a gallery in Glasgow (This is Rigged)

The stunt was pulled off by This is Rigged (PA)

Taylor added: “You might see this action and wonder what this has to do with food insecurity in Scotland, putting some porridge on the queen, but the media have made it clear this is what it takes to get them to care.

“So, if we’re going to have to do something insane, something random, to get them to care, that’s what we’re going to do - that’s what I’m going to do. So, I’m going to pour some jam on the queen’s head.”

A spokesperson from Police Scotland told the Guardian: “Around 11.55am on Sunday March 3 2024, police were called to a report of a protest and alleged vandalism within Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Kelvingrove Park, Glasgow.

“Two women, aged 23 and 30 years, have been arrested and charged following the incident. They have been released on an undertaking to appear at Glasgow sheriff court at a later date. A report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal.”

Antony Clements-Thrower