Borders rebels in finance firm office blockade

Borders members of Extinction Rebellion were among those who last week staged an 11-hour blockade at the Edinburgh office entrance of global investment managers Baillie Gifford – one of the finance companies who manage the MSPs’ pension fund.

The protesters claim that rather than divesting away from fossil fuels, Baillie Gifford upped their investment in Shell last year by 19%. This, they say, in spite of the fact that early last year the Scottish Parliament backed action on climate change and declared a climate emergency.

MSPs have also claimed to support moves towards more ethical pension funds.

An Extinction Rebellion Scottish Borders spokesperson added: “Of the five fund managers working on behalf of Scottish Borders Council pension fund, two invest in companies who have interests in fossil fuel extraction and exploration, and Baillie Gifford is one of them. Baillie Gifford are again major sponsors this year of our own Borders Book Festival.”