Harman forced out of home by Fathers 4 Justice
Protestors say they have enough food to camp on Harman's roof for a week
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Sunday, 08, Jun 2008 05:36
Labour party deputy leader Harriet Harman has been forced to leave her home as two protesters set up camp on the roof of her house to demand that divorced fathers be given better access to their children.
The two men are from the Fathers 4 Justice protest group, which has staged several high profile stunts in the past including pelting former prime minister Tony Blair with condoms full of purple flour in the House of Commons debating chamber in 2006.
Police surrounded Harman's house in South London and waited for the two costumed men, who said they had enough food for a week, to come down.
"I don't think it is fair to the police resources to be tied up outside my house because of this demonstration when they could be doing other important policing work," Ms Harman told reporters outside her home.
"I also think it is unfair on the neighbours, so we are moving out," she said, adding that although the protesters said they wanted to meet her they had made no attempt to do so.
Fathers 4 Justice says the justice system is prejudiced against divorced fathers, denying them basic visitation rights to see their children.
The two protesters, clad as comic superheroes, hung a banner reading "A father is for life not just conception" down the side of the house and gave media interviews on mobile phones as they sat on the roof in balmy summer weather.
Fathers 4 Justice founder Matt O'Connor, who was not in the rooftop protest, said the pair had simply walked into Harman's garden while she was at home and used a ladder to climb onto the house.