Occupy London protesters staged a mock party outside City Hall on Wednesday, accusing Mayor Boris Johnson of consistently defending the rich over ordinary Londoners. The demonstration came after Johnson described the St Paul’s Cathedral encampment as a “maddening protest against capitalism” and called for its removal.
Around 15 activists left the main camp to hold a “thank you party” for bankers, brandishing a banner reading “Boris loves bankers.” They highlighted that Johnson, who earns over £400,000 a year, has held 86 meetings with financial services figures since 2008, compared to just 15 public meetings with Londoners and five press conferences.
Protesters in suits and bowler hats criticised the Conservative mayor for urging the abolition of the 50p top income tax rate while simultaneously planning fare increases that would hit poorer Londoners hardest. One activist, Dennis, said Johnson had “completely failed to capture the mood of the country” and had “identified himself as the mayor of the 1%.”
Johnson, who last week called for laws to prevent tent cities “erupting like boils” across London, further angered demonstrators by telling a dinner that judges should have the “cojones” to rule the protest was restricting the highway. The Occupy camp at St Paul’s, now in its 12th day, shows no sign of disbanding.
