Yes campaign denies it kept black poet off leaflets
Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Campaigners supporting the alternative vote have denied accusations that they "airbrushed" the black poet Benjamin Zephaniah out of leaflets distributed in the Home Counties, Hampshire and Cornwall.
The campaign used Zephaniah's picture as an endorsement on literature in London, but in other parts of the UK the leaflets featured the actor and broadcaster Tony Robinson, prompting accusations from rivals that the Yes campaign was "ashamed" of the poet's backing.
Yes-to-AV said it varied the celebrity backers featured on its leaflets as there were "a number" to accommodate.
"Let's put it this way: Operation Black Vote, the Muslim Council of Britain and a host of similar groups are backing the Yes campaign," a spokesman said. "The BNP are backing the No campaign. People can draw their own conclusions."
Meanwhile in a separate row over the voting reform referendum, which takes place on 5 May, the Liberal Democrat minister Chris Huhne accused the Conservative Party's chairwoman, Baroness Warsi, of using "secret donations to advance scares and smears" against advocates of the AV system.
He demanded that she reveal the source of her campaign's funding, adding: "Please stop now before you poison our politics."
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments