THE Destroy The Joint Facebook page, used to attack broadcaster Alan Jones, was set up by left-wing union official Sally McManus, who counts Employment Minister Bill Shorten as a friend.

Established after embattled 2GB breakfast host Jones said that "women are destroying the joint", it is co-run by failed former Labor Party candidate Victoria Brookman.

With more than 16,000 "likes", the Facebook campaign has been instrumental in galvanising public support against Jones and the Macquarie Radio Network in the wake of the radio host's comments about the Prime Minister's father.

But despite the Labor links of Ms McManus, 40, secretary of the white-collar Australian Services Union's NSW branch, and aspiring MP Ms Brookman, who ran against Brendan Nelson in the federal seat of Bradfield in 2007, those behind the campaign have denied any official connection to the ALP or politics.

"I started the whole thing in my loungeroom," advertising executive Jane Caro said. Ms Caro, a panelist on ABC's The Gruen Transfer, said she sent the first tweet after Jones said on August 31 that "women are destroying the joint", referring to political leaders including Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore and former Victorian police chief Christine Nixon.

Ms Caro said her only motivation was to "send up" his comments as well as making a point when she tweeted: "Got time on my hands tonight so thought I'd spend it coming up with new ways of 'destroying the joint' being a woman and all. Ideas welcome." Destroy The Joint was then turned into a hashtag by hand surgeon Dr Jill Tomlinson, who described the campaign as an "empowering, positive and light-hearted response to misogynist comments by Alan Jones".

As it raced through the Twittersphere, Ms McManus created the Facebook page.

Ms McManus, who has known Mr Shorton since they met in 1994 through the union movement, handed it over to Ms Brookman and another friend, journalist and academic Jenna Price. The Facebook campaign really took off after Mr Jones' recent remarks on September 22 about Mr Gillard's father.

Meanwhile, in its war of words with Alan Jones, Mercedes-Benz yesterday backed away from criticisms.

The carmaker released a carefully-worded statement in which it said the decision to cancel its substantial sponsorship was commercial - not political.

Mercedes defended its corporate communications manager David McCarthy, who has been described as a "gutless wonder" by Mr Jones.

"Every Mercedes-Benz executive involved has acted in accordance with our corporate values," the company said.

It said that it had two contracts with the Macquarie Radio Network.

"Mercedes-Benz Australia/Pacific cancelled its corporate sponsorship contract with 2GB on 1st October 2012 giving 28 days' notice," the company said.

"Separately there was an advertising contract with 2GB and our NSW dealers. We now understand that this contract was cancelled on or about 19 September 2012 giving 28 days' notice."

Originally published as Labor link to anti-Jones campaigners