Protesters Dump Manure Under The Ritz London Christmas Tree, Demand Tax On Extreme Wealth
✍️ By Teju/ December 5, 2025/ 8:35am
A bold and shocking protest swept through London this week when activists from the group Take Back Power emptied bags of horse manure under the Christmas tree at the lobby of The Ritz London. Their dramatic stunt, captured on video, was meant to be a strong statement against wealth inequality and the concentration of extreme wealth among a tiny elite.
The protest took place midday on Wednesday, when three members of the group wheeled suitcases into the hotel lobby. Inside, they quietly unzipped the bags to reveal plastic sacks filled with manure, then tipped them out beneath the lobby’s grand festive tree. Security quickly intervened and removed them from the premises.
Outside the hotel, the activists held placards with blunt messages: “INEQUALITY IS S—” and “TAX THE RICH.” Through their action, Take Back Power demanded the establishment of a permanent “House of the People”, a citizens’ assembly chosen by democratic lottery. This body, they contend, should have the authority to tax extreme wealth and restructure Britain’s economic inequalities.
One participant, a 23‑year-old healthcare worker, explained her frustration with a system that allowed billionaires to flourish while essential public services like healthcare suffered, citing overworked doctors and long, inaccessible wait times for patients. Another, a 65‑year-old former doctor and community worker, pointed to the ever‑widening gap between the super‑rich and ordinary citizens as justification for the protest.
The demonstration has already sparked heated debate. Supporters argue the protest forces attention on deepening inequality and the need for structural change. Critics, however, view the tactic as messy, disrespectful, and possibly counterproductive, especially given its setting inside a public hotel.
Meanwhile, the UK’s Metropolitan Police have opened an investigation on grounds of criminal damage, though as of the latest update, no arrests have been made.
The video of the stunt, which you may have seen with the caption describing protesters emptying manure under The Ritz’s Christmas tree, is more than a sensational moment. It captures a growing frustration among citizens alarmed by rising inequality, stagnant public services and a concentration of wealth that many argue comes without accountability.
For Take Back Power, this is more than protest, it’s a call for radical reform. They want a “House of the People” with real power to tax the wealthy, redirect resources, and reshape Britain’s economic and social landscape.
