Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest


by Newswire    
3:03 pm - October 31st 2011

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Labour candidate for Mayor of London Ken Livingstone today defended the right of #occupyLSX protests to remain camped next to the London Stock Exchange.

He also said Mayor Boris Johnson had “wildly misjudged” the issue.

A statement by his office said:

This has been a peaceful protest, and it should be approached on that basis. City Hall has a duty to accommodate those who wish to protest in London and ensure their safety whilst ensuring the London does not grind to a halt. No one wants or expects there to be permanent camps – all protests have a beginning and an end – but the scale of the problems ordinary people are facing mean these international protests are inevitably not yet over.

It is completely unsurprising that some people are going to protest: in modern Britain directors’ pay is soaring but ordinary people are losing their jobs, seeing their services cut, and being hit with higher fees, fares and VAT. The top one per cent is doing well, the rest are being squeezed. One in ten Londoners are out of work, fares are going through the roof, hospitals and NHS services are under threat. Last week’s figures on top directors’ pay add to the powerful feeling of unfairness.

The Mayor of London’s office has wildly misjudged this issue, making the Occupy movement the enemy but failing to act on public concerns about jobs and growth. Conservative London actually stands for more unfairness, demanding a lower top rate of tax for the richest. That’s not surprising in a city where the mayor meets bankers more than the police.

The City must give more back to the wider London community that hosts it. Demands for charitable donations from bankers are inadequate. They have not addressed London’s deep inequalities and the need to get a balanced economy.

Ken becomes the most senior Labour party official to give his backing to #occupyLSX.

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Reader comments


1. Man on Clapham Omnibus

About time too! Sadly, however worthy his contribution, Ken is seen as a maverik. If Milliband came out in support that would be different.But he can’t! Locked in the politics of yesteryear the Labour party has lost its voice.

2. Rob the crip

If Miliband comes out on anything, it will be to late, the bloke has no views on anything, he says what he”s told to say.

Well done Ken mate, see you down the Dog and Duck to night……

3. Rob the crip

Well said Ken see you down the Dog and Duck tonight have a pint.

As for Miliband the bloke as nothing to say on anything which has not passed his press Guru. he’s pointless.

4. test

Now I thought this was a protest about the Stock Exchange, yet Ken rounds on Boris. Not surprising of course, Ken wouldn’t be doing his job if he couldn’t take a pop at Boris, but just shows how nebulous the demands of these “protests”/squats are.

5. Churm Rincewind

@ Test. It’s true that the demands of the Occupy movement are nebulous. But why should they have any “demands”? I thought they were there to express anger and discontent with current financial systems, rather than to provide a solution. Given that no-one else in the world has managed to come up with an answer, it would seem unreasonable to expect the protestors to do so.


Reactions: Twitter, blogs
  1. Liberal Conspiracy

    Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest http://t.co/O9woQOx5

  2. The Dragon Fairy

    Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest http://t.co/O9woQOx5

  3. Dave Robinson

    Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest http://t.co/O9woQOx5

  4. Sean Lynch

    Red Ken backs #occupylsx http://t.co/6BVCnGhx

  5. Lisa Egan

    Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest http://t.co/O9woQOx5

  6. Milena Buyum

    RT @libcon: Ken Livingstone defends #occupyLSX protest http://t.co/Ou6ULagg

  7. Sabby Dhalu

    Excellent article on @liberalconspiracy re Ken Livingstone defend #OccupyLSX http://t.co/L1TQUZOu





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