Letter: Should Political Leaflet Campaigns Continue During Lockdown?

Published on: 21 Dec, 2020
Updated on: 21 Dec, 2020

From: Brian Creese

chair, Guildford Labour Party

This has been a difficult time for local political parties. We have a very important election coming up in May for Surrey County Council, but campaigning has been constantly interrupted by the Covid restrictions.

Guildford Labour Party stopped leafleting on Friday evening just before we went up to Tier 3. As we all know, that lasted a mere day and we are now in the highest level of Tier 4. So I was slightly surprised to hear the local Lib Dems had been leafleting yesterday afternoon.

Having read the Tier 4 guidance, I cannot see that any campaigning for a political party, however much we may wish to do so, can possibly be allowed. Labour South East has also given us clear guidance that leafletting in Tier 4 areas is not allowed.

I would be interested to hear the views of other political parties and your readers on whether they think leafletting is justified during these locked-down times.

Responses to Letter: Should Political Leaflet Campaigns Continue During Lockdown?

Dave Middleton Reply

December 22, 2020 at 2:43 pm

I agree. No party should be pushing potentially virus-contaminated bits of paper through people’s letterboxes at the moment. Is delivering political leaflets, the majority of which will go straight in the recycling bin, essential travel? I think not. Frankly, aside from genuine postal mail, all the advertising flyers should cease for the duration too.
Susan Fox Reply

December 22, 2020 at 2:43 pm

I haven’t had one from the Lib Dems but have had one from the Labour Party.
Anthony Mallard Reply

December 22, 2020 at 2:57 pm

Save your money, such leaflets customarily go straight from the letter-box into the bin. Promises made by political parties rarely materialise.
Brian Creese Reply

December 23, 2020 at 12:57 pm

In response to Susan, I hope she received our leaflet before we went into Tier 3 on Saturday.

We have asked that no more are distributed until we return to a lower Covid restriction.

Brian Creese is the chair of Guildford Labour