Sponsored by
Party poster is vandalised
A billboard asking if people were English and proud has been was covered in graffiti.
The English Democrats party advertising hoarding was put up in Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth, as part of its political campaign ahead of the European elections on June 4.
But just days after it went up it had been vandalised with a giant 'No', and later part of the poster was ripped down.
The damage is thought to have been done last Thursday, when thousands of people were out celebrating the patron saint of England.
David Knight, chairman of the Hampshire English Democrats, said: 'We have no idea who has done it or why they have done it – maybe it was someone who was disgruntled or maybe it was just someone that thought they would have a go at it.
'We just don't see the need to do it.
'We think it was done on St George's Day as that was when we first noticed it.
'We can't be 100 per cent sure but it seems to be that way, which makes it even more disappointing in some way.
'It could just be someone that doesn't like the English.'
Members of the party gathered in Portsmouth over the weekend for their spring party conference.
And while they were discussing campaign tactics more vandals attacked the poster, ripping parts off of the huge mock-up of the red and white St George's cross.
Mr Knight has reported it to police in the hope they can catch the criminals.
He said: 'We don't think there is much the police can do but I thought it should be reported anyway.
'We are more disappointed than anything.
'We had only had it up a couple of days and now no one can read it because someone somewhere thought they would wreck it.
'I'm sure the opinion of people who did this is in the minority, but it is still very disappointing.'
EURO ELECTIONS
The European elections will see candidates from across the country battle it out at the ballot box for the chance to represent the UK in Brussels.
About 375 million European citizens in 27 countries can vote, as 736 members of the European Parliament are elected for a five-year term.
The date of the election will vary from June 4 to June 7 according to local custom in the 27 member states.
The first results are expected to be announced on the evening of June 7.
People living in the south east will elect 10 MEPs to represent them.
>> Vote in our latest web poll.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Portsmouth
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
