Plaid Cymru billboard accused of imitating racist slogan
- Published
Carrie Harper addressing a Plaid Cymru conference in 2019
A Plaid Cymru Senedd election billboard has been accused of being a "riff" on a racist campaign slogan from the 1960s.
Candidate Carrie Harper's advert said: "Don't want a Tory for a neighbour? Vote Plaid Cymru, not Labour."
Labour said it was "inspired by the racism of Smethwick" - referring to a Tory campaign slogan in the English west midlands seat in 1964.
Ms Harper, standing in Wrexham, said she deeply regrets the "language used has unintentionally caused offence".
She said that was "in no way the intention".
Carrie Harper's tweet of the slogan has now been deleted
In a statement the Wrexham councillor said the advert, withdrawn before the weekend, had "included the word 'neighbour' to reference the fact that the billboard was next to the office of the Conservative MP".
"I want to focus on a positive campaign aimed at delivering real change for the community where I grew up and live," she added.
In a Twitter, external comment on Thursday night, Welsh Labour said: "Either Plaid are naive and don't know what this sounds like or it's a dogwhistle and they don't care.
"Riffs on Smethwick 1964 slogans should stay in the past."
Labour's Lesley Griffiths is defending the seat.
WALES ELECTION: THE BASICS
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A Welsh Conservative spokesman said: "This is an insult to over a half million people who voted Welsh Conservative in 2019.
"If the people of Wrexham want change after 22 years of Labour Government in Wales, and a decent, hard working local MS, they should vote for Jeremy Kent."
Tim Sly, Welsh Liberal Democrat candidate in Wrexham, said: "Slogans like this are horrible, divisive and have no place in politics and those responsible for writing and sharing this slogan should be ashamed.
"Serious questions also need to be asked about the judgement of those who chose this slogan and their suitability to stand for office."
Other candidates standing in Wrexham are:
Reform UK - Ian Berkeley-Hurst
Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party - Paul Ashton
UKIP - Sebastian Ross
Gwlad - Aaron Norton
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