Hackney’s political parties divided over ‘Bank of Ideas’ squatters
The Bank of Ideas: open for 'business'. Photograph: Julia Ross
Hackney’s political parties are split in their views over the Occupy London movement and its taking over of a UBS-owned building in Shoreditch last month.
Of the parties, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens were the most supportive of the occupation. By contrast, Hackney’s Labour leader, Mayor Jules Pipe, declined to take a position saying: “This is purely a matter for the building’s owners. The protest is a London-wide issue, not specific to Hackney”.
A Liberal Democrat spokesperson said: “In a democracy we fully support the right to protest and we have a lot of sympathy with the concerns of the Occupy movement. They express, among other things, a non-specific but widespread unease about the present monetary system and the widening inequality in our society.”
Former Green Party councillor Mischa Boris said: “Occupy London highlights the wastefulness of the many empty office spaces in London. These should be used by Londoners for positive purposes.”
Conservative London Assembly Member and Hackney resident Andrew Boff said the occupiers needed to be more prescriptive: “The only criticism I’ve got of the occupy protesters is: what about having a point? … All they seem to be saying is that the bankers have done wrong.”
The occupation of the vacant four-storey building owned by the Swiss Bank began on 18 November, and the choice of building holds significance for the protesters.
Occupy spokesperson Jack Holburn said: “Whilst over 9,000 families were kicked out of their homes in the last three months for failing to keep up mortgage payments – mostly due to the recession caused by the banks – UBS and others financial giants are sitting on massive abandoned properties.”
The property was empty for several months before the occupation.
Related:
UBS squatters at ‘Bank of Ideas’ face eviction
Occupy London protestors open Bank of Ideas