Boris can't see big picture, say St Paul's 'hippies'

Protesters camped outside St Paul's Cathedral today accused Boris Johnson of an "inadequate" response to their demonstration after he branded them "hemp-smoking, fornicating hippies".

The Mayor launched his latest attack on the Occupy London Stock Exchange movement during a speech at a £500-a-head masked ball for bankers at the Royal Courts of Justice.

He described the demonstration as "baffling protests against capitalism that have led to not a single resignation of a banker, but of three clerics". He added: "When it comes to protests, I just cycle past them very quickly."

The tent city outside the historic landmark, which this weekend had a visit from playwright Alan Bennett, faces possible eviction after the City of London applied for an injunction against it.

Bennett, who this year supported the campaign to keep libraries open in Brent, took tea with the activists and left two signed copies of his work at the camp's library tent.

Occupy London spokeswoman Naomi Colvin said Mr Johnson's response to their protest had been "inadequate" and added: "He seems very concerned about the manifestations of the protests rather than what we are talking about.

"Boris has rejected that people could make a principled stand over this. Ed Miliband and the Bishop of London have seen the bigger picture, it is strange that it has eluded Boris Johnson."

Protesters who took over an abandoned office block owned by UBS were today due at the High Court to oppose an application for an injunction by the banking giant. Comedian and activist Mark Thomas, who last week made an appearance at the four-storey building on the edge of the City, was expected to attend the hearing.

In a statement over the weekend, the protesters issued a call for an end to tax havens and demanded "full transparency in corporate lobbying".