Endorsement from a prominent anti-mayor supporter has been deleted following a Plymouth Plus investigation into financial donations.
El Clarke from Clean Our Patch, who was up until the end of last week a prominent supporter of the anti-mayor campaign, has had her endorsement quietly deleted from the "Plymouth Knows Better" social media campaign and website following our investigation into donations from Labour party councillors.
It comes after the campaign also quietly changed their imprint after Plymouth Plus revealed it was reported to Devon and Cornwall Police over concerns about its connection to the Plymouth Labour Party not being properly disclosed.
At the time a Plymouth reader of Plymouth Plus got in touch with us and said:
“I was surprised when I saw El Clarkes endorsement as she has always stated that Clean Our Patch is apolitical”.
Sudden Change of Heart
The deletion of support comes after Plymouth Plus exposed details about Labour party donations, raising questions about the transparency and motivations behind the anti-mayor campaign.
Clarke's name and endorsement, which previously appeared on Plymouth Labour's promotional materials, have since been scrubbed from their online presence.
Questions Remain Unanswered
The timing of Clarke's decision has sparked speculation about her motivations. Two key questions emerge from this development:
Has she got something to hide? The swift removal of her endorsement immediately following the donation disclosures suggests potential concerns about being associated with the funding arrangements that Plymouth Plus brought to light.
Or has she had second thoughts about endorsing Plymouth Labour's position? The revelations may have prompted Clarke to reconsider whether the anti-mayor campaign aligns with her principles, particularly if the funding sources or campaign tactics don't match her expectations.
Impact on Anti-Mayor Campaign
Clarke's withdrawal represents a notable blow to Plymouth Labour's "Plymouth Knows Better" initiative, which relied on grassroots endorsements to build credibility. Her departure raises questions about whether other supporters might follow suit as more details about the campaign's backing become public as a result of our ongoing investigations.
Plymouth Plus Revelations
The donation disclosures by Plymouth Plus appear to have been the catalyst for this change, highlighting the importance of transparency in local political campaigns. The exact nature of these revelations and their implications for the anti-mayor campaign remain a subject of ongoing scrutiny.
The development underscores the potential consequences when political funding arrangements come under public examination, particularly for campaigns that position themselves as grassroots movements.
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