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The Mayor of Watford has defended leafleting during the lockdown, following The Cabinet Office urging parties to suspend door-to-door campaigning.
The Lib Dems defended their recent run of leaflets and a ‘WatfordWide News’ tabloid-styled newsletter, by classing the act as an exempt “voluntary service” that cannot reasonably be undertaken from home.
Meanwhile both Watford Labour and Conservatives have halted the distribution of their leaflets, following the lockdown advice.
The debate later caught national attention as the political party – as well as some opposition groups – were also caught leafleting across different regions in the UK.
In a Watford Borough Council meeting on Tuesday (January 26) leader of the Watford Labour Group, Nigel Bell, addressed his concerns of the leafleting situation.
Cllr Bell questioned that seeing as there has been a cross-party collaboration to tackle the Covid crisis, and as Mayor Peter Taylor has echoed Government advice to stay at home, whether this should also apply to political party leafleting.
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In response the Mayor said: “I think it’s really vital that local councillors keep in touch with local residents to provide evidence on the support that’s available – people suffering domestic abuse, or who can’t access food or who aren’t lonely, and it’s really critical that we provide that information.”
WatfordWide News was sent out despite current guidance prohibiting leafleting
He added that they were “providing information” similar to how other companies are, specifically examplifying double-glazing and pizza leaflets.
Mr Taylor said: “The thing that I find strange about the position of Labour locally is that apparently all those things are fine and safe and provide no Covid risk, but anything from a local councillor that provides information to local residents is somehow a Covid risk. And I’d loved to see the epidemiology that underpins that position.”
Cllr Bell however added that he could not find content to get help for Covid, and he could only see politically motivated content, adding “therefore I can’t see any justification in doing that.”
The Watford Labour leader added claims that a Lib Dem activist was seen handing out leaflets in the Callowland Ward, despite Lib Dem councillor Stephen Giles-Medhurst stating leaflets were sent through a Rickmansworth distribution company and the Royal Mail, with “one or two exceptions”.
However these claims have yet to be verified.
Another leaflet handed out
Repeating his stance on the importance of democracy, the Mayor responded: “The government are currently saying there will be a local election held in a few weeks’ time. And what they’re saying is leaflets can be paid for from all types of businesses and organisations, the only ones that can’t are those that criticise the government.
“And I’m surprised that Labour are standing up to that. We’ve asked for the medical evidence, the epidemiology, that backs that up.”
Mr Taylor added that the science shows supermarkets have caused over 2,500 Covid-19 cases since December, and the science shows indoor activities are where outbreaks are occurring. He says science has not shown a danger from leaflets and postal deliveries.
In a letter to political parties, Cabinet Office minister Chloe Smith said: “The Government view is that these restrictions do not support door-to-door campaigning or leafleting by individual political party activists.
“It is widely accepted that voters can continue to get campaigning information remotely. In order to reduce transmission of Covid-19 infection, door-to-door campaigning at this point in time is therefore not considered essential or necessary activity.”
She added that the government will issue guidance to “appropriate conduct” for the May elections in due course.
