Yes to AV accused of airbrushing black supporter
By politics.co.uk staff
Campaigners for electoral reform are being accused of airbrushing out a black poet from their literature, as the debate over the referendum becomes increasingly heated.
‘Yes to AV’ campaign literature featuring Benjamin Zephaniah was sent out to households in London but outside the capital he was replaced with Blackadder star Tony Robinson.
The rest of the literature remained seemingly unchanged, with images and quotes from other celebrities such as Colin Firth featuring on both sets of leaflets.
“Why are Yes to AV ashamed to have the support of Benjamin Zephaniah in places like Cornwall and Hampshire?” Terry Paul, NO to AV spokesman, said.
The row could not come at a worse time for the ‘yes’ campaigners, with last week being dominated by suggestions that AV would help the BNP and other extremists.
That claim was angrily rebutted by the ‘yes’ camp, which pointed out that the BNP are opposing reform and rely on low voter turnout to win elections – something which would be made more difficult by AV.
