Newbury Market Place.

I took a trip to Newbury today as it was the last day of my holiday. Having gone a couple of months ago with fellow blipper Lynne929 to see Philip Brown Violins, I thought I would take a walk along the canal and around the town.

I came across this sign above the restaurant- it used to be a department store ( only closing in 1990) and thought it looked quite interesting.

When I returned home, I looked it up and found out about the 2005 political shenanigans. ( I can't link on ipad, so will just copy the information):

Benyon quizzed over photo finish
19th April 2005


Newbury Liberal Democrats have complained to Conservative leader Michael Howard about a ‘doctored photograph’ on Tory rival Richard Benyon’s literature.
Mr Benyon’s election newspaper features a picture of him in the Market Place, but with letters on the old Beynon department store – now Caffe Uno – rearranged to spell Benyon.

With 16 days to go until Newbury goes to the polls in the closest contest in a decade, Lib Dems said voters were entitled to honest campaigning.

Newbury Lib Dem agent Leah Darbyshire said: “I am disappointed that Michael Howard’s Conservatives should distort our town’s history in this way, for political advantage.

“Residents are entitled to expect honesty and straightforwardness from all the candidates seeking election to represent them.

“If Michael Howard’s Conservatives are not above faking photographs to suit their own purposes, how can we trust anything else that they say?”

“They really should get out more,” said Conservative candidate Richard Benyon, “Lib Dems lecture on 'honest campaigning' while falsely claiming credit for building hospitals and college campuses, and cutting crime. They are a laughing stock, now clutching at straws as they face up to defeat on May 5."


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