Why Boris and the Independent's owner spent a night rough-sleeping

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, and Evgeny Lebedev, the owner of the Evening Standard and The Independent titles spent a night sleeping on London's streets last week.

Why? In solidarity with those who have no other choice but to do so, and to raise awareness about our Homeless Veterans winter charity campaign.

The mayor and Mr Lebedev spent Friday night and Saturday morning on the pavement of Gresham Street, near St Paul's Cathedral in central London, with just a sleeping bag and a sheet of cardboard.