Protesters occupy city building

Jan 21 2012

Occupy London protesters have taken over a nine-storey office building in the City.

The economic justice campaigners entered Roman House in the Barbican at about 3.30am on Saturday morning, the fifth occupation they have carried out to date.

The movement vowed to remain at the abandoned block that previously housed financial service companies, until the City of London Corporation publishes full details of its City cash accounts.

The protesters are calling for the Corporation to "become a more transparent public body like every other public body in the country".

Supporter Bryn Phillips, 28, said: "The Corporation has undermined our democracy through the power of its lobbyists and must submit to public scrutiny.

"If the City agrees to publish its City cash accounts, future and historic, we will leave the building immediately. If does not, we will take appropriate action until such time as it does."

The Corporation does not publish the £50 million-a-year accounts because some of the assets involved are commercially sensitive, it is understood.

A private endowment, the accounts fund a number of places and events around the capital each year, including open spaces (£16 million), food markets (£6 million), City of London schools (£5 million) and ceremonial events such as state visits (£5 million).

More than 250 pages of detailed spending by the Corporation is published on its website.

City of London Police arrived at Roman House minutes after the protesters entered the building but no arrests were made, Mr Phillips said.