Squatters occupying the drive of an MP’s constituency office in Finchley have been “politely” asked to move on – despite claims they were inadvertently given permission to stay.

Members of the Occupy movement began demonstrating outside the office of Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer on Friday in protest at his support for anti-squatting laws, which they argue endanger the lives of homeless people.

The group, who were evicted from The Bohemia pub in North Finchley earlier this month after a six-week occupation, and who took over the closed Friern Barnet Library for five months earlier this year, were due to end their demonstration on Friday evening.

But the Finchley Conservatives appear to have inadvertently given permission to the members of the Occupy movement after they invited them to move their pavement protest to the courtyard of the Ballards Lane constituency office.

The squatters sought legal advice from City firm Bindmans, who immediately sent a letter to Mr Freer and Barnet Police threatening legal action if they interfered with their clients’ right to protest.

Now, the group insist they will not cease their protest without a court order unless Mr Freer spends a night on the streets with them.

In a letter leaked to the Times Series, Mr Freer told the squatters and their representatives this afternoon that the demonstration was “deterring constituents” from accessing the office, and invited them to leave.

He wrote: “I appreciate you feel your point is important, but I must stress that I am trying to deal with constituents who are facing urgent medical issues and child protection issues to name but two. 

“My constituents are being deterred from calling at my office.  Having made your point through your protest, I now politely ask you to stop.”

But group leader Pete Phoenix, who obtained free legal advice from a “friend” at Bindmans, insists the group is going nowhere until Mr Freer spends the night in one of the tents with them, or he speaks out to oppose anti-squatting laws.

He said: “If he comes and meets us face to face, we will leave at an agreed date – we just need to get our point across and get these unlawful, unfair, undemocratic and unaffordable anti-squatting laws overturned.

“I’m sure Mike will see our point of view once he spends a night out in the cold – maybe he will change his mind about the use of the 1.5million empty buildings in this country.”