A Bridge too far away.

A poster for a by-election hustings has come under criticism after it used an American landmark to represent Newport , though those responsible are probably quite pleased that it has given them some much needed publicity 

Renew is a centrist political party in the United Kingdom. The party was set up to provide an alternative for moderate voters following the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum in 2016. The party describes itself as wanting to reform existing political structures, and does not identify with either left or right ideology.The party is actively welcoming candidates and members from non-political backgrounds.

One of its main positions is to advocate remaining part of the European Union, though the party also emphasises investment in education, sustainable development and environmental protection as key values. The party had three leaders: Annabel Mullin, James Torrance and James Clarke; latterly, Mullin has been described as leader,with the party's website describing Torrance and Clarke as deputy leaders.

According to Wales Online 

... the Renew Party has been left red-faced after their artwork to promote the event that they organised showed the Claiborne Pell Bridge - commonly known as the Newport Bridge - in Rhode Island, USA.

Conservative campaigner Michael Enea, who spotted the image on social media, said:

"Being that the parliamentary election is for Newport in Wales you’d like think they would surely know that the bridge featured in their advert (as local landmark) is not from Newport.
"It is actually located 3,199 miles away.

He added: 

"I get the impression that someone has been using Google search? I suspect they've typed in 'Newport landmark' and it's thrown back an image of a bridge in Newport, USA.
"It really makes you wonder who’s running the campaign for the Renew Party? Surely their candidate should've spotted this?"

The artwork has since been changed, and now features an image of Newport's iconic Transporter Bridge.

Renew's communications officer, James Dilley, said: "I must apologise on behalf of the Renew Party for this error.

"It's obviously a busy time at the moment getting everything ready for the by-election and in the rush to organise the hustings, I signed off on the wrong image for the advert.

"The image has since been changed, but I apologise for any offence caused."

The by-election in Newport West is being held following Labour MP Paul Flynn's death last month.

The Newport Transporter Bridge is of course Iconic and the gaffe and , does show that Renew may not be entirely familiar with the constituency , but since the electorate in Newport West are as probably in as much of the dark , those responsible may well be actually quite pleased they got the publicity.

The hustings

The actual  hustings  seemed to place on Thursday, March 21 , and expected to finish at 10pm.

Candidates apparently a at the hustings included: 

• Renew - June Davies
 
• Lib Dem -  Ryan Jones
 
• Green - Amelia Womack
 
• Plaid Cymru - Jonathan T Clark
 
• For Britain - Hugh Nicklin
 
• Abolish the Welsh Assembly - Richard Suchorzewski
 
• Democrats and Veterans - An agent will be in attendance

A Labour spokesperson said:

 "We would welcome invites to hustings from community organisations but it would be unreasonable to expect candidates to turn up to an event organised and run by a rival
party in the by-election.

"Ruth [Jones, Labour candidate] will be attending a community event this evening

It is very odd for a party standing in an election to invite other parties to an hustings  and it could be that some who agreed were not entirely  aware , who was running it .


If you attested the hustings let me know who turned up.