Students gather outside King's for the protestlucy wilson

This afternoon King’s students gathered for a ‘Wages Not Wine’ protest outside the college. The damp conditions did not stop an estimated 30 people turning out to display placards and banners. 

This was in response to last week’s revelations that King’s College spent £338,559 on wine (the most of any college), with £50,000 going on free wine for fellows.  This, according to Living Wage campaigners, is an “outrage”, especially when compared with the over 100 employees paid under the living wage

Barney McCay, a leader of the Living Wage Campaign, described the protest as a “big success.”

Lily Thomson, a first year HSPS student at King’s who attended the protest, said: “As a member of King's College, I think it's really important we uphold our academic reputation, and a main part of that is upholding our traditionally egalitarian stance.

“Having worked for less than the living wage, I know how hard it is to make ends meet.  That the college can, but refuses, to pay the living wage is shocking and atrocious.”

Another King’s student in attendance, Gabriel Flemming, said: “The amount spent on wine demonstrates the fact that College can [afford to] pay the living wage. They should prioritise doing so.

“The scale of the protest, despite the rain, shows the strength of feeling on this problem in King's. This is only the start; we'll continue to take action until the college pays all staff the living wage.”

King’s College Council is due to meet on 7th February to discuss the Living Wage. It is not yet clear what the outcome of this meeting will be.