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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Occupy activist stands in City of London byelection | Occupy activist stands in City of London byelection |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| An activist from the Occupy movement is standing in a City of London byelection on Thursday in a direct electoral challenge to the way the City is governed. | An activist from the Occupy movement is standing in a City of London byelection on Thursday in a direct electoral challenge to the way the City is governed. |
| Bryn Phillips, a writer and community organiser who was a spokesman for protesters who occupied St Paul's cathedral last year, is contesting a byelection for the City of London Corporation, the Square Mile's local authority. | Bryn Phillips, a writer and community organiser who was a spokesman for protesters who occupied St Paul's cathedral last year, is contesting a byelection for the City of London Corporation, the Square Mile's local authority. |
| Critics have accused the corporation of using its statutory position to lobby for the financial services industry. Phillips, who is running in Farringdon Within ward, said if elected he would use his position to democratise the ancient traditions, societies and conventions of the City. | Critics have accused the corporation of using its statutory position to lobby for the financial services industry. Phillips, who is running in Farringdon Within ward, said if elected he would use his position to democratise the ancient traditions, societies and conventions of the City. |
| "We want to renew the balance of power in the City and then the country at large," he said. "There will be full elections on 13 February next year and Occupy will be fielding a full slate of candidates at that point. We hope today will be just the starting point." | "We want to renew the balance of power in the City and then the country at large," he said. "There will be full elections on 13 February next year and Occupy will be fielding a full slate of candidates at that point. We hope today will be just the starting point." |
| The relatively small electorates for City of London elections mean seats can be won and lost with a handful of votes. Businesses as well as individual residents can vote and political parties are not involved, leaving candidates to stand as independents. | The relatively small electorates for City of London elections mean seats can be won and lost with a handful of votes. Businesses as well as individual residents can vote and political parties are not involved, leaving candidates to stand as independents. |
| Phillips said: "We need to renew the balance of powers in the wider British constitution. If we can fix the problem of the broken democracy in the City we can fix the wider problem of our broken democracy at large and cut the democratic deficit." | Phillips said: "We need to renew the balance of powers in the wider British constitution. If we can fix the problem of the broken democracy in the City we can fix the wider problem of our broken democracy at large and cut the democratic deficit." |
| He said he would stand up to vested interests in the City, and called for more transparency. "I'm convinced that democratic reform of the City of London is the best way to start addressing the problems we face," he said. | He said he would stand up to vested interests in the City, and called for more transparency. "I'm convinced that democratic reform of the City of London is the best way to start addressing the problems we face," he said. |
| Phillips, 32, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder and one charge of burglary in connection with last year's English riots, He said was an "honest man" who had made a mistake and had handed himself in to the police. He is due to appear in court on 2 August to be sentenced. | Phillips, 32, pleaded guilty to two charges of violent disorder and one charge of burglary in connection with last year's English riots, He said was an "honest man" who had made a mistake and had handed himself in to the police. He is due to appear in court on 2 August to be sentenced. |
| The other candidates standing in Thursday's byelection are Trevor Brignall, Mark Clarke, Spencer Marshall. The result is expected before midnight. | The other candidates standing in Thursday's byelection are Trevor Brignall, Mark Clarke, Spencer Marshall. The result is expected before midnight. |
| • This article was amended on 27 July 2012. The original said Bryn Phillips was "facing two charges of violent disorder in connection with last year's English riots", and that he was due to appear in court on 2 August. In fact Phillips has pleaded guilty to those two charges and also to a charge of burglary, and the 2 August court hearing is for his sentencing on those three charges. | • This article was amended on 27 July 2012. The original said Bryn Phillips was "facing two charges of violent disorder in connection with last year's English riots", and that he was due to appear in court on 2 August. In fact Phillips has pleaded guilty to those two charges and also to a charge of burglary, and the 2 August court hearing is for his sentencing on those three charges. |
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