AV campaigners accused of “airbrushing” black poet from leaflets
Campaigners for a change in the UK’s voting system to the alternative vote have been accused of “airbrushing” one of their chief supporters, black poet Benjamin Zephaniah, from their campaign by those arguing against any change.
“Yes to AV” campaigners made use of Zephaniah for their London campaign, but supplanted the poet for the actor Tony Robinson outwith the capital, prompting the charge from No campaigners.
The Yes camp were quick to retort however that they had “a number” of celebrity backers to accommodate in the documents, including Joanna Lumley, Eddie Izzard and Stephen Fry, although these stars all featured nationally.
A Yes spokesperson said: “These allegations mark a new low for the no campaign and their increasingly desperate smears.”