Stephen Tindale obituary

Environment adviser to Labour who headed Greenpeace for five years but later broke with many of its positions

The environmentalist Stephen Tindale, who has died aged 54, was an influential backroom figure in the Labour party who became executive director of Greenpeace UK. His brand of environmentalism was driven by his socialist principles. He was international in outlook, pragmatic about what could be achieved politically, and technologically optimistic. He was successful as a leader, first in government and then outside it.

Heading Greenpeace from 2001 until 2006 was Stephen's most public-facing role, at a time when the organisation was at its noisiest. In 2005 he was arrested during direct action at Range Rover's SUV plant in Solihull. Greenpeace planted a flag subverting the company's logo and proclaiming "Land Rover: Climate Criminals". Stephen was proud of this act of civil disobedience and a framed image of his arrest adorned his wall.

Continue reading...