The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Benjamin Zephaniah “removed” from pro-AV pamphlets

AV campaign hots up after No to AV hint at racism in the Yes to AV campaign.

By Duncan Robinson Published 04 April 2011 13:16

The AV referendum is drawing nearer and the campaign for and against it is getting dirtier. This weekend No to AV were caught playing fast and loose with the facts about their BNP claims. Yesterday, however, No to AV alleged that the Yes camp had removed the black poet Benjamin Zephaniah from promotional literature outside London because they were "ashamed" of his support.

No to AV have certainly got one thing right. As the New Statesman shows for the first time, Zephaniah is definitely absent from the ones sent to West Sussex, where the cast of supporters is decidedly pasty-faced.

This Yes to Fairer Votes leaflet went out in Ealing:

Ealing

While this one went out in West Sussex.

West Sussex

Yes to Fairer Votes deny the claims. "We have a number of endorsers and we vary the endorsers we use on our leaflets," said a spokesman. "These allegations mark a new low for the No campaign and [its] increasingly desperate smears.

"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. The BNP is backing the No campaign. People can draw their own conclusions."

No to AV, however, are making the most of it. Councillor Terry Paul, spokesman for No to AV, said: "Why are Yes to AV ashamed to have the support of Benjamin Zephaniah in places like Cornwall and Hampshire? The Yes campaign's leaflet offers a chilling preview of politics under the Alternative Vote.

"We have warned that AV would encourage parties to pander to extremist opinions in a chase for second- and third-preference votes, but we never imagined the first example of such outdated views would come from the Yes campaign itself."

Ouch.

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6 comments

Tue, 2011-04-05 02:51 — alexander baxter (not verified)

Outside of London this Benjamin Zephaniah is not well known. Apart from that he does not look the typical Brit with that Rastafarian hair style!

Fri, 2011-04-08 21:54 — kathz (not verified)

Why do you think Benjamin Zephaniah isn't well known outside London? Apart from growing up in Birmingham, he has an international reputation - and now lives in rural Lincolnshire.

I found out about him when my children read his poems at school - they learned "Talking Turkey" by heart. My son in particular moved on to be a great fan of Zephaniah's widely-read teen fiction.

Both my children would have been interested by the appearance of Benjamin Zephaniah on the AV campaign leaflet - and they both have votes. However the Yes to AV campaign evidently decided that young people in Nottinghamshire and their families were more likely to be swayed by pictures of white actors and entertainers who appeal to a rather older fan base. (As a middle-aged white woman I'm also pretty concerned by the assumptions behind the omission of Benjamin Zephaniah.)

The referendum campaign has been as stupid as any I have ever encountered - I have already encountered abuse by people I know campaigning for both sides, who are unwilling to admit that I have a mind and the capacity to think for myself (or that I might be able to consider the mathematical and political possibilities of each system).

Mon, 2011-04-04 13:31 — Dan (not verified)

Oh for goodness sake, everyone needs to get over themselves. This referendum is too important to waste on this kind of bottom of the barrel politics.

Mon, 2011-04-04 13:47 — Claire Spencer (not verified)

I received one of the ones without Benjamin Zephaniah on in Birmingham too. If they're pandering, then they're doing so on the basis that there are no racist people in London, and lots and lots everywhere else. I can't even begin to fathom the sense in that. Particularly when Benjamin Zephaniah was born here!

As such, I don't know whether it was pandering, or not. But either way, very poor show by the main Yes2AV campaign. The whole point (I imagine) of having multiple photos of 'slebs' is to appeal to lots of different people. I understand that Benjamin Zephaniah might be outside some people's frame of reference, but honestly!

The worst thing is, once again, the real issue is clouded. Candidates and campaign teams (wrongly) pander to extremist views because they want their votes. That's will happen under every system where, um, votes are required. Councillor Terry Paul should know better, and probably does, but why let something like that get in the way of a good bout of obfuscation?

YARGH.

Mon, 2011-04-04 13:51 — Benedict (not verified)

Or should the headline be: Baldrick "removed" from pro-AV pamphlets

Wed, 2011-04-06 21:38 — Tony McMahon (not verified)

Come on, it's a little bit odd that his is the only face to disappear in Sussex. And are people really that racist in Sussex? I love some of the thin-skinned reactions from the yes to AV camp - showing their Lib Dem inability to take criticism.