Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Levy Excerpts

Thursday 11th February 2021 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

There is a little hiccup, I think. We are definitely going to have to move on.

[Ian Levy (Blyth Valley) (Con)]

What safety measures his Department plans to take to help ensure the 2021 local elections can take place during the covid-19 outbreak.

[Matt Western (Warwick and Leamington) (Lab)]

What plans the Government have to help ensure the May 2021 local elections are covid-secure.

--- Later in debate ---

[Ian Levy [V]]

In 2019, I think we all took for granted the ability to run election campaigns that could properly engage with the electorate. Campaigning for this year’s elections on 6 May will look very different, but now more than ever, there is a need to engage with our constituents. Does my right hon. Friend agree that it is vital that all those who stand for elections should be able to convey their messages to voters, and will he please elaborate on how he believes campaigning should go ahead in a covid-secure way?

[Michael Gove]

My hon. Friend is absolutely right: democracy should not be cancelled because of covid-19. The polls that are scheduled for May will go ahead, and it is important that he and others communicate with his constituents. Of course, social media provides one means of doing so. At the moment, door-to-door campaigning and leafleting are not allowed because of covid restrictions, but we will be reviewing how we can make sure that he and others can keep faith with the constituents who elected him so memorably just over a year ago.