Fortnum and Mason

[David Johnson]

Aren't our police wonderful, number 138.

Of the 201 people arrested on Saturday, 145 of them were UK Uncut protesters engaged in a peaceful sit-in at Fortnum & Mason. Of the 149 charged, 138 were UK Uncut protesters (for "aggravated trespass"). This means that the police have charged no more than 11 people who were breaking shop windows and 138 people who were sat cross-legged in a shop with a few banners and reading books, together with chatting with the staff and customers. The spiffing plan that the police came up with to clear the shop was to tell the protestors that since they had been peaceful they would be allowed to just leave the shop, "just turn left when you go out". The result was they were kettled, arrested and spent most of the night in the cells. Now although this wheeze worked, it ain't going to work more than once, is it?

For the heinous crime of aggravated trespass, the maximum sentence is 3 months imprisonment.

Why Fortnum and Mason, you may ask. Did they just want a good look at the wondrous hampers they have there?

Fortnum & Mason is owned by Wittington Investments. Wittington Investments has a 54% stake in Associated British Foods (ABF), a multinational food corporation with revenues of some ?10bn/year. Some time between 2005 and 2008, ABF set up a holding company in Luxembourg. It then sent large sums of money - interest free - from ABF PLC and Primark (Ireland), also owned by ABF, into this holding account, from which it was sent straight back, this time with interest charges.

According to tax experts, this has meant ABF's annual tax avoidance amounts to at least ?10m through offsetting interest payments on profits.
Although Wittington is ultimately linked backed to the Weston Family Trust, which has charitable status, ABF is not a charity in any sense. The Weston Family Trust naturally support the pro-corporate, pro-privatisation policies being promoted by the coalition government and are major backers of the Tory Party.

Go carefully now, ya hear.

Cheers
D

[one eyed jack]

Er..so the rich are reaping rewards from the riots and the police make peaceful protesters look like scum bag thugs out on a good tear up.

Mmm. Sounds about right.

God job I wasnt quick to label every hoodie hurling a brick at Santander as a mindless thug then. Though I wont turn a complete blind eye to their presence.I just accept the spin in th emedia doesnt always get it right when they have to paint someone good (the police) and someone bad (the protesters) by tainting them with the same badge as the few who made it spiral out of control

[andy at handiwork]

I suppose they considered it was easier, and safer for them, to mass arrest clearly peaceful protesters than mixing it with the brick throwers down the road. Poor liitle diddums.

[David Johnson]

Hi
According to the Sun newspaper, that bastion of truth

"A 1,000-strong mob stormed the Queen's favourite food store Fortnum & Mason, where tourists cowered in terror as yobs threatened to smash up the shop. "

Here is a video clip taken during the occupation

http://liberalconspiracy.org/2011/03/27 ... -peaceful/

The occupation starts about half way through the video clip.

They don't look like a gang of mindless yobs terrorising customers to me. Mind you country dancing can me horrific to some.

It will be interesting to see how many convictions the Met get over this.

Cheers
D

[Lizard]

I don't know, these toffs eh?



Actually It's a crap store anyway, they would have been better of invading KFC, the foods much better..

Up the workers.

[Jonone]

What's happening with the occupation of the Gadaffi property in Hampstead or wherever ?

[David Johnson]

Yeah, there is a rigorous selection process for UK Uncut demonstrations.

Nobody who went to public school is allowed to join and having spent time in a castle is a definite reason for being banned.

He must have slipped through. Bless the Daily Mail, always gets to the nub of the story and addresses the real issues.

Eh?

Cheers
D

[jimslip]

Mons. Lizard, I noticed that a young Toff cited in the DM article was a member of "UK Uncut". Is this not a term that is used by gays to identify whether a compadre is circumcised or not? Is Fortnum & Masons running an anti uncircumcised males campaign and hence the protest? !confused!

[Lizard]

[img]http://a3.l3-images.myspacecdn.com/imag ... 4aaf/s.jpg[/img]

By 'eck Mr Slip, you could be right, how did you deduce that? here was me thinking those 'uncut 'chappies were just a bunch of middle-upper class moronic metros, wearing 'nappy pants'

[jimslip]

It ees my, 'ow you say, job to, 'ow you say, deduce the 'ow you say, truth from such, 'ow you say, trivia, monsieur!
[img]http://harishragunathan.files.wordpress ... suchet.jpg[/img]