"Only one in 10" Occupy LSX tents are occupied – and they could be there until 2012

Only one in 10 of the tents at the Occupy London Stock Exchange camp, which forced St Paul’s Cathedral to close, are occupied at night, the Daily Telegraph reports.

“It is like a phantom camp – a big charade,” said Matthew Richardson, a Corporation of London councillor, who is calling for action to be taken.

“It just shows that most of the people don’t have the courage of their convictions, and are here just to make trouble and leaving your tent here overnight is a good way to do that.”

Our editor-at-large Charles Orton Jones, who went down on the first day of the protests, felt that even then London’s movement was struggling to match the intensity of Occupy Wall Street or the protests in Barcelona.

He also observed that there are quite a few myths surrounding the protests, such as the assertions that the “credit crunch caused the cuts”, “USA is to blame” for our economic crisis and that banks are making money out of ‘thin air’.”

• Read: Ten Occupy London myths debunked and join the debate

Separately, the protestors outside St Paul’s Cathedral might not be evicted until 2012 under Human Rights legislation.

City of London Corporation met lawyers and officers yesterday to discuss the step forward. City A.M. reported that it could take months to win a legal battle against Occupy LSX because of the time needed to prepare a writ challenging the Human Rights Act. Protesters could also seek leave to appeal any ruling.

• Read: Video: Why Occupy London? A protester explains
• Read: Occupy London Stock Exchange: Q&A with protestor

The Corporation is believed to be considering the failed attempts to remove Brian Haw from Parliament Square since 2001. The Parliament Square peace tents have stayed put despite Haw’s death earlier this year.

St Paul’s remained closed yesterday. Prayers are being said each morning and evening and the Dean and Chapter are reviewing the situation several times a day, a spokesman said.

Activists from Occupy LSX and UK Uncut marched on HM Revenue & Customs yesterday to demand the resignation of British tax man Dave Hartnett, who allegedly allowed Vodafone and Goldman Sachs to dodge significant amounts of tax.