Protest against Barclays backed Mary Quant V&A exhibition

Extinction Rebellion have staged a protest outside the V&A Dundee against Barclays Bank's sponsorship the Mary Quant exhibition.

XR members protested by pouring oil over themselves while dressed in 60s-style outfits, reminiscent of the designer's style, to highlight the connection between the finance sector, the Government and the fossil fuel industry.

Anne Campbell, a retired midwife and a member of XR in Dundee, said: Barclays is the biggest funder of fossil fuels in Europe.

The V&A should not be accepting money from an organisation which is complicit in fuelling climate change.

Barclays is using sponsorship of art and culture as a way of diverting attention away from the fact that they are profiting from an industry that is destroying our climate, making life unliveable for millions of people across the world, and threatening our whole planet with destruction.

Bank financing for fossil fuels has increased since the United Nations Paris Agreement in 2016. This has to stop.''

Supporters of the campaign, Make The Connections, will take part in other action across Scotland during October.

The group plans to stage a larger protest across Scotland on October 26 - the day the Scottish Parliament will reconvene after their October recess.

Face masks and social distancing will be used at all events and use of track and trace systems is being promoted.

The group said they are discouraging people from travelling long distances, especially on public transport, in favour of decentralised local action being taken in small groups.

Ms Campbell, who is a retired health professional, said: We have been meticulous in ensuring that all of our rebels, particularly those taking part in public-facing actions, have been provided with clear guidance on how to take part safely during this time.

We absolutely understand the seriousness of this pandemic, but at the same time, continuous failure to act decisively on climate change is endangering our entire planet and all life on it.

We have no choice but to take action.''