Harman leaves home after protesters climb on her roof

Published on 08/06/2008 22:10

HARRIET Harman, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, yesterday moved out of her home after two Fathers 4 Justice protesters climbed on to her roof to demand a meeting.

Ms Harman, who is Minister for Women and Equality, said it was not fair to waste police time or disturb her neighbours so she was going to stay elsewhere until the demonstration had moved on. In a statement she said: "At about 7am, Fathers 4 Justice climbed on the roof of my house. We are going to move out and stay somewhere else. I don't think it's fair for police resources to be tied up outside my house by this demonstration."

The two protesters – Mark Harris and Jolly Stanesby, from south Devon – were dressed as super heroes "Captain Conception" and "Cash Gordon".

A spokesman for the group said the demonstration on the roof of Ms Harman's south London home was intended as an "early Father's Day strike" against the government over fathers' access to their children.

The protesters unfurled a banner on the roof reading: "A Father is for life, not just conception." They said they intended to remain at the property until Ms Harman read Mr Harris's book, Family Court Hell.