THE Lloyds Banking Group’s annual general meeting (AGM) has been disrupted by pro-Palestinian and climate activists.
Several protesters stood up one by one to disrupt the meeting at the SEC Armadillo auditorium in Glasgow from the moment it started on Thursday morning.
In a statement, campaign group Tipping Point said they had disrupted the meeting to demand the bank divest from fossil fuel companies and firms “complicit in Israeli genocide and occupation”.
As the incident unfolded, chair of Lloyds Banking Group Robin Budenberg attempted to speak over the protesters, telling the AGM he was “really pleased” to be back in Glasgow.
READ MORE: Israel embassy accuses Glasgow councillor of 'sowing division' over Euros game
Budenberg was forced to stop speaking as the disruption continued.
A female protester could be heard referring to Lloyds “funding genocide in Gaza” and “funding climate catastrophe”.
“Everywhere you look, you can see it happening,” the protester added, referring to “wildfires and floods” before being removed by security guards.
Other attendees shouted: “Oh, shut up” and appeared to want to get involved, with Budenberg asking them to leave the removal of the protesters to the stewards.
Addressing a male protester shortly after, he said: “Unless you’re prepared to sit down and wait for questions I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to ask the stewards to remove you.”
Another male protester asked Budenberg if his “£6 million” salary does not pay for Specsavers glasses, as he cannot see the “atrocities” that are going on.
The demonstrator said: “Do you not see that Lloyds is funding the arms that are destroying people’s futures?
“You are robbing, you are denying people their futures.
“Don’t just focus on the shareholder profits, focus on what makes us human.
“For the love of our children, let’s stop this madness, let’s stop investing in more fossil fuels.”
When the protester appeared to resist attempts by stewards to remove him, Sir Robin said to the room: “It looks like this gentleman does not want to leave.
“You are threatening the safety of other people in this room,” he told the protester.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here