Aviva's annual general meeting in York was disrupted by protesters from the campaign group Boycott Bloody Insurance, who accused the FTSE100 insurer of underwriting or investing in companies that profit from surveillance, immigration detention, fossil fuels, and weapons.
Protest Details
The group claimed that 12 individuals with shares in Aviva staged a demonstration at the company's Wellington Row offices. A video shared on social media shows participants lying and kneeling on the floor before being escorted away. Boycott Bloody Insurance's website criticizes insurers for protecting what it calls 'deadly industries driving climate chaos, the genocide in Gaza and border violence.'
Campaigner Statement
Andrew Taylor, a campaigner at Boycott Bloody Insurance, said: 'Aviva likes to present itself as an ethical business, but when you look at the companies it supports, that turns out to be a sham.'
Aviva's Response
Aviva declined to comment on the events at the AGM. The meeting came after the company published its 2025 results, which showed a 25% rise in operating profits to over £2.2 billion, including a £174 million contribution from its takeover of Direct Line.
Context of Recent Protests
The disruption follows a similar incident at NatWest's AGM a week earlier, where protesters heckled the chairman over climate policies. Barclays is also expected to face protests at its AGM in London on Thursday, with groups such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Campaign Against Arms Trade organizing demonstrations outside the meeting.
