We rise early and assemble at an agreed rendevous point. Pitas Mush is driving, Apish Smut is in the passenger seat and Tamp Sushi and Pa Isthmas discuss rear seat safety whilst struggling to fasten not frequently used seat belts. In the boot is standard issue SIU uniforms, boots and 6 cakes that were labelled ‘Millionaire Chocolate Cakes’ in Cardiff Market on the day of purchase. Our plan is simple. Drive to Slough, park at the train station, change into uniform, place two cakes and one stainless steal dog bowl in one of three blue bags and catch the train to Paddington. This goes to plan. Intel informs us that the desired underground station, Aldgate East, has been closed as has much of the Circle Line. Opposing forces are present. We head to Kings Cross, regroup and acclimatise. There are a number of protestors outside the station waiting. We are spotted, assessed, watched. SIU high visibility vests stand out amongst the crowds. We proceed to the Bank of England and climb on to the steps of the Royal Exchange. The crowd is large, almost impenetrable in places. We place the first cake in the dog bowl and raise aloft with right hand. We walk through the crowds and occasionally shout ‘Let Them Eat Cake’. These are the first spoken words in any of the SIU actions and a direct breach of our initial Manifesto. An emergency meeting will be held to clarify and amend constitution at earliest opportunity. We find our first performance space. We stand holding bowls prior to lowering them to the floor and rest on our knees. Pitas, Apish and Pa are performing, Tamp is documenting and not wearing uniform despite the obvious risks. We then slowly place our hands either side of the dog bowl and put our faces into the cake and start eating. This continues for some minutes. When we rise we see many onlookers. We pick up the bowl and offer the cake to those watching. This action happens at a number of locations around the crowd and during the End To Austerity March that culminates in Parliament Square. We pause outside major financial institutes and repeat the action. We stop outside Downing Street and repeat the action. We are asked on a number of occasions what we are doing? Some are satisfied with the answer, Let Them Eat Cake. Others ask further. Some aural description of the idea behind the myth of Marie Antoinette’s words is offered plus some further embellishment referring to the comments of Baroness Jenkin, who stated that ‘the poor did not know how to cook’.
After offering the cake after each action it became just a few crumbs.
The action was completed. We reassemble at Westminster Bridge and walk along the embankment to the station. We are asked many times for directions. On returning to Slough we debrief and stand down.
SIU mission completed … we await documentation.