Three arrested after red paint sprayed on Scottish Parliament
This Is Rigged are calling on the Scottish Government to create community food hubs.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Three people have been arrested after red paint was sprayed across the front of the Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh in protest against rising food insecurity.
This Is Rigged campaigners say a quarter of Scots have experienced food insecurity since 2023 and displayed banners reading “hunger is a political choice” and “one in four Scots” outside the building.
The group is calling on the Scottish Government to fund and implement a community food hub for every 500 households in Scotland.
It also wants supermarkets to reduce the cost of baby formula to March 2021 prices.
Police were called to the scene and said investigations are continuing.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Three people have been arrested in connection with damage to the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh following a protest around 10.45am on Monday March 11.
“Inquiries are ongoing.”
This Is Rigged have vowed to continue to escalate actions until their demands are met.
Theo Milligan, 21, a hospitality worker from Edinburgh and a This Is Rigged campaigner, said: “It’s vitally important we take action now, we will not stand for these rising prices and we demand the Government will commit to helping its citizens in this time of food crisis.”
Louis Wombacher, 21, a gardener, also of This Is Rigged, said: “There has been an increase in Victorian-era diseases such as malnutrition, scurvy and rickets, diseases which can easily be eradicated and prevented with easy access to food.”
The Scottish Parliament said the incident is a matter for Police Scotland.
It said that following a similar incident in August 2023, costs associated with the clean-up operation and the damage caused amounted to about £6,000.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “No-one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. Scotland is the first nation in the UK to publish a plan, grounded in human rights, that works towards ending the need for food banks – and the Trussell Trust have commended this.
“Over three years, our £1.8 million Cash-First Programme will support eight public and third sector partnerships. This will strengthen urgent access to cash in a crisis and reduce the need for food parcels, meaning people can access the essentials they need whilst maintaining dignity.
“We have consistently called for the UK Government to provide additional support to people with the cost-of-living crisis.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.