This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-london-17011324
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Occupy London St Paul's eviction appeal bid thrown out | Occupy London St Paul's eviction appeal bid thrown out |
(39 minutes later) | |
Protesters have been refused permission to appeal against their eviction from the Occupy London camp outside St Paul's Cathedral. | Protesters have been refused permission to appeal against their eviction from the Occupy London camp outside St Paul's Cathedral. |
Occupy London challenged the High Court's decision that the City of London Corporation's move to evict its camp was "lawful and justified". | Occupy London challenged the High Court's decision that the City of London Corporation's move to evict its camp was "lawful and justified". |
The Court of Appeal's decision to refuse the application means the corporation is free to clear the site. | The Court of Appeal's decision to refuse the application means the corporation is free to clear the site. |
"All appeals denied but fight not over," Occupy London said on Twitter. | |
"Having a central focus point at St Paul's can still be maintained [without] residential tents but this isn't a setback." | |
The City of London Corporation called on the protesters to leave immediately. | The City of London Corporation called on the protesters to leave immediately. |
Occupy London, which has been campaigning against corporate greed, set up the camp on 15 October. There are about 150 tents at the site. | Occupy London, which has been campaigning against corporate greed, set up the camp on 15 October. There are about 150 tents at the site. |
'Planning law breach' | 'Planning law breach' |
Refusing permission to appeal, the judges, headed by the Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, said despite passionate views held by protesters, no significant new evidence was presented which justified an appeal. | Refusing permission to appeal, the judges, headed by the Master of the Rolls, Lord Neuberger, said despite passionate views held by protesters, no significant new evidence was presented which justified an appeal. |
Stuart Fraser, the City of London Corporation's policy chairman, said the authority welcomed the ruling and called on protesters to "comply with the decision of the courts" and remove tents and equipment "voluntarily right away". | Stuart Fraser, the City of London Corporation's policy chairman, said the authority welcomed the ruling and called on protesters to "comply with the decision of the courts" and remove tents and equipment "voluntarily right away". |
He said: "Everyone has had their day in court. | He said: "Everyone has had their day in court. |
"Peaceful protest is a democratic right but the camp is clearly in breach of highway and planning law." | "Peaceful protest is a democratic right but the camp is clearly in breach of highway and planning law." |
Last month, High Court judge Mr Justice Lindblom granted the City of London Corporation orders of possession and injunctions. | Last month, High Court judge Mr Justice Lindblom granted the City of London Corporation orders of possession and injunctions. |
The authority sought a possession order after Occupy London ignored a ruling to clear its tents from the public highway. | |
The five protesters who appealed against the High Court's decision were Tammy Semede, George Barda, Daniel Ashman, Stephen Moore and Paul Randle-Joliffe. | The five protesters who appealed against the High Court's decision were Tammy Semede, George Barda, Daniel Ashman, Stephen Moore and Paul Randle-Joliffe. |
Michael Paget, the lawyer for Ms Semede, said the protesters were liaising with the City of London Corporation to remove tents in a "proper and considered way". | |
This was important because there was a lot of "paraphernalia" at the camp, and also "vulnerable people", Mr Paget explained. | |
Speaking about the ruling, he said the seriousness of Occupy's message had never been questioned. | Speaking about the ruling, he said the seriousness of Occupy's message had never been questioned. |
"The Occupy message has been heard and will continue to be heard," he said. | |
"It has made a difference and it will continue to make a difference." | |
Matthew Varnham, of the Occupy movement, said the authority had not provided a timetable for the eviction of the camp which the group considered "wreckless". | |
'Undue influence' | |
A protester from hacker group Anonymous, who has been at the camp since October and did not wish to be named, said the movement had not been defeated. | |
He said: "The decision is a bit of a slap in the face for the right to protest and it also highlights that the corporation is having undue influence over the system." | |
In legal terms, the Court of Appeal's decision is the end of the road for the protesters in the UK courts, but they could still lodge a case at the European Court of Human Rights, but that would not stop the eviction. | |
The protesters will decide their next course of action at a meeting later, but have said they could move to the other two occupations in the capital - in Finsbury Square and the School of Ideas in Featherstone Street, Islington. |