Lush man Constantine backs Plane Stupid

Anyone who missed their flight at Stansted when the airport was overrun on Monday by environmental protestors from the protest group Plane Stupid will probably think twice about buying products from the high street cosmetics chain, Lush. Why? The London Evening Standard reveals that Mark Constantine , the company's founder, is one of Plane Stupid's biggest financial backers.

Speaking of his company's involvement, Constantine, told the Standard: "We are very keen to support this group... We are very keen to help them to highlight these issues [of climate change] until the Government does something about it."

Constantine has donated £20,000 to Plane Stupid, and has also pledged to pay for the legal bills of the 56 protesters who were arrested yesterday. He said: "I will be supporting them as much as I possibly can. I will be funding some of their court costs. Hopefully the Government will be kind to them.

"I do find it a bit odd that environmental protesters can be suddenly treated as terrorists. Surely it is a good thing that they are encouraging everybody to think about the environment. I cannot see much wickedness in it."

Constantine, 56, who owns more than half the shares in Lush and is said to have a personal fortune of £50m, added: "I don't think it should be necessary to strand passengers, but on the other hand we have to stop global warming - in which case, how?"
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