London, UK. Today, climate activists transformed the steps of the UK Treasury into a grotesque VIP nightclub — complete with billionaires, fossil fuel bosses, and British Chancellor Rachel Reeves conga-dancing behind a red velvet rope — to ask the Chancellor: “Whose side are you on?”. Photos available here (credit: 350.org).
Matilda Borgström, UK campaigner at 350.org who was at the stunt in Westminster said: “While billionaires party, the rest of us pay the price. Rachel Reeves has a choice: stand with ordinary people facing heatwaves, floods and rising costs, or keep clinking glasses with the billionaire class profiting from climate breakdown and unfair tax breaks. We’re drawing the line — and demanding the Chancellor tax their billions to pay for climate action and vital public services.”
The guerrilla performance piece exposed the obscene wealth and influence of billionaires and fossil fuel elites in stark contrast to the millions of ordinary people shut out of power, struggling with soaring bills, and living through escalating climate disasters. Characters including Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, Jim Ratcliffe — and Rachel Reeves herself — were depicted guzzling oil from champagne flutes, and bashing open a piñata Earth to shower themselves in cash.
The action comes just two days before the Make Them Pay rally on 20 September, when tens of thousands are expected to march in London, backed by more than 60 organisations including Oxfam, Green New Deal Rising, and War on Want. The march is part of a global Draw the Line mobilisation spanning over 90 countries, with actions from New York to Johannesburg, Manila to Belém, uniting communities against billionaire greed, polluter profiteering, and climate chaos.
It also comes weeks ahead of the UK Autumn Budget, where Reeves is under increasing pressure to deliver a tax on the super-rich to fund climate action and rebuild public services.
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Notes to editors
- Photos of the stunt available for use here (credit: 350.org).
- The stunt is part of the global Draw the Line week of action (15–21 September). More info: https://drawtheline.world/
- Make Them Pay rally: 20 September, London. Tens of thousands expected.
- Global actions will target billionaires and fossil fuel profiteers across 90+ countries.
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