THE Newport Independents Party, is, like others, outraged by the graffiti desecration of monuments and buildings around the city, particularly the desecration of memorials to our civic heritage and to those who have given their lives in service of our country.

We are also disappointed to see political opportunists attempting to make capital out of these acts by attempting to suggest a link between graffiti and the Newport Independents Party simply because a common graffiti ‘tag’ uses the initials ‘NIP’. This in itself is an act of shocking disrespect to our city, its heritage, and those who have given their all for our freedom and our democracy. Those people who are attempting this underhand tactic should be ashamed of themselves.

They should also do their research. If they did they would know that the ‘NIP’ graffiti has been around for several years; certainly for a lot longer than the nine weeks that our party has been in existence.
I am reliably informed that the ‘NIP’ graffiti which appears around our city stands for ‘Nobody In Particular’ and has been commented on in the South Wales Argus comments section in previous years. The ‘NIP’ tag even appeared on the under-construction Friars Walk.

Newport Independents Party strongly condemns the acts of vandalism and stresses that it is nothing whatsoever to do with the party. We also condemn the pathetic actions of those who attempt to make political capital out of these actions, and who in doing so further disrespects the city’s memorials.

Kevin Whitehead
Leader and co-founder
Newport Independents Party