Protesters blockade London's controversial MIPIM property fair

[Tony Gosling]

VIDEO: Protesters blockade controversial MIPIM property fair

11:57 15 October 2014
http://www.london24.com/news/politics/police_shut_down_controversial_mipim_property_fair_amid_protests_1_3807438
<mailto:Zoah.Hedges-Stocks at archant.co.uk>Zoah Hedges-Stocks
<http://www.london24.com/polopoly_fs/1.3807434.1413370630!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_630/image.jpg>
Labour MP Andy Slaughter tweeted this picture of protesters gat

Labour MP Andy Slaughter tweeted this picture of 
protesters gathering outside the exhibition

Dramatic scenes unfolded at the world’s largest 
property fair in Kensington Olympia today, as 
protesters chanting ‘block Boris’ and waving 
banners that read ‘Homes for people, not profit’ blockaded the building.
The fair was forced to close its doors, and one man was arrested.
The MIPIM property fair attracts 20,000 
investors, developers, local authorities, and 
banks each year, and has become a target for 
Londoners who are angry about the housing crisis.
Furious demonstrators say that social housing is 
being sold off when the capital is in desperate need of more affordable homes.
There was a heavy police attendance at the west 
London site and the security grills of the 
building were brought down, stopping people from 
leaving or entering the exhibition. The events inside continued, however.
Student journalist Oscar Webb tweeted: “Just saw 
a delegate assault a protester. Literally punched him in the head”.
Police confirmed that there has been one arrest for ‘common assault’.
Activists were demonstrating against the flood of 
luxury flats in London at the expense of homes for people on average incomes.
There was also a lot of anger about as the sale 
of NHS land to property developers, with ‘Save 
Our Hospitals’ banners on display.
One placard depicted the Mayor of London as a 
vampire with the slogan “sucking the lifeblood out of London”.
A ‘house of cards’ was built from estate agents’ 
placards – and then toppled to represent how 
precarious the London housing situation is.


Banners criticise the Mayor of London for his relationship with
Banners criticise the Mayor of London for his 
relationship with "oligarchs" and property 
developers [Photograph by @radicalhousing]


The security grills of the building were pulled down [Photograp
The security grills of the building were pulled 
down [Photograph by @radicalhousing]

A 'house of cards' built from estate agents' signs [Photograph
A 'house of cards' built from estate agents' 
signs [Photograph by @radicalhousing]





A 'house of cards' built from estate agents' signs
   
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