Activists won't fight eviction

High Court judge Mr Justice Hickinbottom on Friday backed Islington council's bid to turf out the Occupy London protesters.

The council said it would wait until Wednesday to kick them out.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom admitted that the group had raised important issues about social and economic inequalities but said they didn't have any substantial ground to defend their right to stay in the public space.

He said Islington had acted properly, behaved responsibly and fairly and brought proceedings as a "last resort."

The judge refused permission to appeal and although the protesters can apply directly to the Court of Appeal, Occupy London spokesman Ronan McNern they weren't planning to do that.

Mr McNern told the Star that this wasn't the end of Occupy, which had created a "productive, political environment" where different campaign groups got together to fight for economic and social justice.

"We're getting to know a whole network of people, helping us develop our political activism and understanding," he said.

The camp, made up of around 135 tents and a wooden structure, was set up on the public land of the square in October as an extension of the main site by St Paul's Cathedral that was evicted in February.

louise@peoples-press.com