Haw faces removal as court appeal fails

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The mayor of London has said he is pleased the High Court has ruled that two protesters are not allowed to sleep on Parliament Square.

Boris Johnson and the Greater London Authority won a ruling against Brian Haw and Barbara Tucker last month.

Today the High Court confirmed the overturning of the previous "special case" made for Haw and Tucker that enabled them to sleep on the grass on a temporary basis.

A spokesperson for Johnson said:

"The mayor is pleased that the High Court has supported previous rulings to return possession of Parliament Square Gardens to the GLA.

"The Court of Appeal had previously made a special case for Brian Haw and Barbara Tucker that they could continue to sleep on the grass area controlled by the GLA on a temporary basis while their case was referred back to the High Court for conclusion in this matter.

"The High Court has now concluded that neither party should be allowed to continue to sleep on the GLA controlled grass.

"The perimeter fences will be adjusted accordingly."

Haw, 62, has staged a continuous demonstration in the square against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. He is currently in Germany receiving treatment for cancer.

Last year Johnson and the GLA won a battle to have the so-called 'Democracy Village' camp removed from Parliament Square's green.

But as Haw's protest takes place on the pavement on the edge of the square he was not covered by the ruling.

The pavements on the southern and western edges of the square are owned by Westminster Council, the pavements on the northern and eastern side and the grass are owned by the GLA.

Today's ruling could mark the end of Haw's protest ahead of the Royal wedding in Westminster Abbey on April 29.