Banner bandit: Election candidate’s campaign sabotaged

It’s unknown who tore it down


The fight for a Union Officer position turned ugly last Friday after an election candidate had his banner torn down.

Alex McCloskey, who is running for Ethical Issues Officer, told us of the shocking moment he discovered that his banner had been maliciously removed from the Square – just a day after the opening of Union elections.

He said: “I noticed the banner had been cut down on Friday morning.

“I first looked around to find if it had blown away, it hadn’t. I then rang estates and security to see if it had been found. It had not. I am also sure it wasn’t removed by estates – they said they hadn’t when I called them.

“I reported this to the Union soon after and to Josh Clare, the Deputy Returning Officer.”

The banner had been suspended from the metal railings running behind the benches at the top of the steps opposite the Campus Kitchen, at the far end nearest the Arts building.

On Saturday morning, strings which had been used to secure the banner still hung from the top of the railings. A number of severed cable ties were also clearly visible on the ground beneath them.

Alex told us it had taken him five to six hours to design and paint the banner and secure it properly.

Asked who he thought the vandals were, the candidate said: “I’m not entirely sure who did it – it could have been anybody.

“But I’m sure someone must have taken it. I used lots of string to keep it in place and no one else’s banner has moved at all.

“Also if it had blown away it would still be nearby. This is not the case.”

And it’s not only Alex that’s outraged by the events.

Amy Rust, a Union Council rep and Secretary of the Politics Society, said: “Not cool, UEA” while student Liam Cunningham quoted Vladimir Lenin, saying: “There are no morals in politics; there is only experience.”

The removal of the banner is currently under investigation by the Deputy Returning Officer at the Student Union, who refused to comment.

Do you know who cut down Alex’s banner? Contact The Tab at [email protected]