Activists from the Paper Not Planes campaign were ejected from the annual shareholder meeting of James Cropper plc after raising questions about the company’s alleged involvement in supplying materials used in Israel’s warplanes.

Six members of the group, who hold shares in the company, joined the meeting, which took place at the J36 Conference Centre.

They delayed proceedings by asking questions to the board and directors of the company, and five of them were physically removed from the meeting by security.

More than 30 activists from Kendal, Lancaster and across Cumbria joined a protest outside the shareholder meeting, holding banners which read “Your profits are covered in Palestinian Blood”, “James Cropper: Make paper not planes” and “Stop Arming Israel”.

placeholder image — Protesters outside the Croppers AGM.

James Cropper plc has faced sustained pressure from Palestine solidarity campaigners over the past two-and-a-half years, due to the company’s alleged involvement in supplying Advanced Materials for Israel’s F-35 warplanes, which have been used in Gaza.

The campaign is calling on the company to return to its proud heritage in making paper products, and to diversify away from military production, to ensure jobs in the local area.

Speaking after the meeting, campaigner Katie Wood said: “The UK government has announced this week that they are going to take a tougher stance on Israel.

"Despite this, James Cropper plc seems determined to stand on the wrong side of history by continuing to supply materials that find their way into Israel’s warplanes- which have been used to indiscriminately kill civilians. We want the company to make products that the whole community can be proud of.”

Sam Burgess, a shareholder from Lancaster who was ejected from the meeting, said “I recently graduated in environmental science, and I am looking for a job.

"Until a couple of years ago, I would have seen Croppers as a great place to work, due to their record for environmentally friendly production.

"However, I just couldn’t bring myself to work for a company that is involved in these controversial activities. There are not many other job opportunities in the area, and we need Croppers to get back to what it does best- making beautiful paper.”

Shareholder David Heller, from Lancaster, said: “We have been trying to start a dialogue with the company about their involvement in the most controversial parts of the arms trade. The company has consistently refused to speak with us, and instead we have been faced with legal threats and being thrown out of their shareholder meetings – despite being paid up shareholders.

"When will the company bosses realise that continued links to Israel’s F35 warplanes cause a massive risk to the company, and sit down with us to discuss alternatives?”

David was removed from the meeting when he started to read a response to the public statement that Croppers made regarding their involvement in military production.

Sue Houseman, a shareholder from Lancashire, who was also removed from the meeting, said: “Croppers know that there are consequences to supplying their products to the arms trade.

"At their AGM they boast of their profits, but they silence those speaking up for the innocent children that are murdered by F-35s coated in their advanced materials.”

A shareholder from Cumbria said: “How can this company justify supplying materials for the F-35 when they kill so many people? Selling these products may be allowed by the UK government, but so was trading in slaves before 1807, sending your 11-year-old son down the mine until 1900 and the chemical castration of homosexuals until 1957.”

This shareholder was physically removed from the meeting when they began to read the names of people killed by Israeli warplanes.

Iain Fraser said: “At the Croppers AGM, whilst reading the names of children killed in Gaza, the first person who came to eject me said ‘we don’t care’, what more can you say?”

James Cropper has previously said: "James Cropper does not manufacture or supply weapons, weapon systems, or aircraft parts. Our contribution is limited to advanced nonwoven materials, which are used in a wide range of industrial and aerospace applications. These materials are not classified as "parts" and are not specific to any one aircraft variant."

However, Paper Not Planes responded: “James Cropper produces materials that are used in a range of military and civilian aircraft, including the F-35 warplane which is used by Israel in their genocide in Gaza. The company previously mentioned this on their website, and in their annual reports, until we started the campaign to stop them arming Israel.

”The company might not describe the advanced materials which it provides as "parts", but it has made use of the "Open General Export License" which covers the export of "goods, software or technology" for the F-35. This information is clearly visible in information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.”