A quarrel has broken out between parties with less than two weeks until elections after it emerged that a Green Party candidate has a criminal record.
Green Party candidate Sue Hagley - running in the Ipswich Borough Council elections for Rushmere - was given a community order after vandalising the borough council Grafton House headquarters in 2021.
However, Labour have labelled her candidacy as 'completely unacceptable' and that she 'cannot be trusted' while Reform UK have also slammed her nomination.
But the Greens have said they fully support Ms Hagley and state she committed the crime out of 'passion' and has 'paid the penalty'.
The Green Party's Ipswich coordinator David Plowman said: "The Ipswich Green Party fully supports the candidature of Sue Hagley in the upcoming local elections.
"Sue is someone who is passionate about the community and the climate. She has been at the heart of a number of community projects which would not have succeed without her skills.
"She did what she did as a result of this passion. She paid the penalty and she also paid for the paint to be removed from the building, therefore there was no cost to the tax payer.
"We know that should Sue become elected as a councillor she would use her skills to serve the people of Ipswich within the restraints and code of conduct expected of an elected official."
In 2021, Sue Hagley - alongside Tina Smith - was found guilty of criminal damage following a trial at Suffolk Magistrates' Court.
Both had denied vandalising Ipswich Borough Council's Grafton House headquarters, in Russell Road, on the morning of February 2021.
Ms Hagley was acting on behalf of the former political party Burning Pink, which aimed to replace the government with citizens' assemblies in order to tackle the climate crisis.
The words "tough love" and "12 demands ultimatum" were sprayed on the front door of the council's building and windows in bright pink paint.
Presiding magistrate Michael Sweeting said both women had been reckless as to whether damage was caused.
Ms Hagley was handed a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay £164.14 in compensation.
In a direct response to our questions, Ms Hagley said: "If elected I will do my best to make Ipswich a community and environmentally focused town."
A Labour spokesman said, in response to Ipswich Green Party defending Sue Hagley's criminal record: "It is completely unacceptable that the Ipswich Green Party are choosing to defend their candidate who is guilty of causing criminal damage to the very council she hopes to join.
"Her actions caused distress to council staff and local residents while wasting taxpayers' hard earned money not only on the clean up but also an unnecessary police investigation and court case.
"Being a councillor is an honour and a privilege. It's about being able to work with staff and fellow councillors, even where there are disagreements, to build positive relationships and deliver vital services for our residents.
"Sue Hagley's criminal actions show she is willing to resort to criminal activity rather than working with others to deliver real change. She simply cannot be trusted with the honour of being a councillor or serving Ipswich."
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Reform UK councillor Christopher Hudson said: "I think that Suffolk voters, and Ipswich voters, would be worried and concerned that a convicted criminal is on the ballot paper.
"This is not a unique case, but I do think that voters should be allowed to make an informed choice, and therefore, it's in the public interest that this information is put out there about the criminal conviction.
"It's regrettable but voters need to know."
The Lib Dem and Conservative parties were approached for comment.
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