Stop Hinkley Press Release

6th February 2009

Stop Hinkley protests at Buckingham Palace

Stop Hinkley yesterday joined a protest outside Buckingham Palace over a formal dinner for heads of the nuclear industry hosted by Prince Andrew.

The protest coincided with a gala dinner laid on for nuclear industry chiefs and included campaigners from Stop Hinkley, Shut Down Sizewell, Nuclear Power People and CND. Hundreds of tourists stopped to watch the demonstration which drew attention to Prince Andrew's controversial role in promoting a nuclear revival.

Photo © Nuclear People Protest Jim Duffy holding the banner.

The gala lunch was hosted at the palace by HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York in his role as the UK's Special Representative for International Trade and Investment. As such the top-level event is likely to be vaunted by the industry to glean support for new nuclear reactors at English and Welsh sites such as Hinkley point and Oldbury.

Jim Duffy, Stop Hinkley Coordinator said : "Prince Andrew has made a misjudgement in promoting the nuclear power, now linking the Royal family with a controversial industry. Local communities are divided on the issue with many concerned about the long-term environmental and health consequences of reviving this previously moribund technology. It's poor judgement for the Royals to side with the industry in this debate."

Photo © Nuclear People Protest

He added : "We were closely shepherded by obviously nervous police, led by a Chief Inspector, who were waiting for us in numbers. Their searches of several campaigners evidently showed that their fear of terrorism is very much alive, confiscating a pair of scissors needed for the banner. But then building terrorist targets in the shape of nuclear power stations must surely be a much bigger fear."

Jim Duffy, Stop Hinkley