Activists Removed From James Cropper Shareholder Meeting In Kendal

Five activists were removed from James Cropper plc’s annual shareholder meeting in Kendal after protesting over the company’s links to military aircraft.

The incident took place at the J36 Conference Centre, where members of the Paper Not Planes campaign attended the meeting and challenged the company’s board and directors. The protest formed part of a wider campaign concerning the company’s involvement in supplying advanced materials for military aircraft.

Six members of the campaign, who are also shareholders in James Cropper, entered the annual meeting. Their participation delayed proceedings as they questioned members of the board and company directors.

Five of the activists were subsequently ejected from the meeting. The action followed their disruption of the proceedings and their continued questioning of those leading the company.

The shareholder protest was accompanied by a larger demonstration outside the conference centre. More than 30 activists from Kendal, Lancaster and other parts of Cumbria gathered at the venue.

The demonstration brought together campaigners from across the region who were seeking to draw attention to James Cropper’s business links with the production of military aircraft.

The company has faced pressure from Palestine solidarity campaigners for around two and a half years. The campaign has focused on James Cropper’s involvement in supplying advanced materials used in Israel’s F-35 warplanes.

The latest action therefore combined activity inside the shareholder meeting with a public demonstration outside the venue. Shareholders who were members of the campaign used their position within the meeting to question the company’s leadership directly.

The presence of more than 30 people outside the conference centre added to the pressure on the company during the annual meeting. The protest involved campaigners from several locations across Cumbria as well as from Lancaster.

James Cropper is a Kendal based company and the shareholder meeting provided campaigners with an opportunity to raise their concerns directly in front of company representatives. The questions directed at the board contributed to a delay in the meeting.

The protest reflects continuing campaigning over the company's involvement in supplying advanced materials for F-35 aircraft. Palestine solidarity campaigners have maintained pressure on the business over this issue for the past two and a half years.

The events at the J36 Conference Centre highlight how shareholder meetings can also become a platform for campaign groups seeking to challenge corporate decisions and business relationships.

In this case, activists who held shares in James Cropper used the formal meeting to question the board, while supporters outside demonstrated separately against the company’s involvement in the supply chain.

The removal of five activists marked the most disruptive element of the meeting, while the larger demonstration outside ensured the campaign was also visible beyond the conference room.

The action comes amid continued debate over the role of companies involved in supplying materials connected to military production. For the campaigners involved, James Cropper’s links to F-35 aircraft remain a significant point of concern.

The protest in Kendal demonstrates that the issue remains active locally, with campaigners continuing to raise questions about the company and its business relationships. Further activity from Palestine solidarity groups could keep attention focused on the matter.

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