Sir Ed Davey

House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

18th February 2021

Dear Sir Ed,

I am writing regarding continued political doorstep campaigning by Liberal Democrat
activists across England, despite warnings that the activity is “neither essential nor
necessary” while the country is working hard to defeat the Coronavirus.
As you will know, the Government issued official guidance for England stating that
doorstep campaigning by political activists is not permitted during the current national
lockdown.[1]
Documents have now revealed that Mike Dixon, Chief Executive Officer of the Liberal
Democrats, has written to your party members telling them to ignore this guidance, and
continue with political campaigning.[2]
He states that the national lockdown restrictions are a “brazen attempt to skew the May
elections and stop elected councillors and volunteers doing their jobs.” The national
lockdown is in place to save lives.
As the Government’s advice states: “You must not leave or be outside of your home
except where necessary”. The Government’s guidance is that these restrictions do not
support door to door campaigning or leafleting by individual political party activists.
The Minister of State for the Constitution and Devolution wrote to all political parties
asking them to “follow this advice and ensure that your supporters are aware of this
position." Yet the Liberal Democrats have continued to ignore the Government’s
guidance on these matters throughout the pandemic.
Liberal Democrat HQ even issued a fundraising email to party activists on the 22nd
January criticising the pause to campaigning again stating that "this is a clear and
brazen attempt to fix the election in their favour". This is clearly false, as the rules apply
to all political campaigners equally to make sure there is a level playing field.
I asked our volunteers to pause all doorstep campaigning in January to respect the
Government guidance and the Labour Party has similarly followed the Government
guidance.

[1]
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-to-parliamentary-parties-panel-on-lockdown-
campaigning/minister-for-the-constitution-and-devolution-letter-to-members-of-the-parliamentary-parties-
panel
[2]
https://www.libdemvoice.org/the-partys-latest-advice-for-campaigners-in-the-pandemic-67000.html

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It is disappointing that the Liberal Democrats are putting lives at risk in an attempt to
win votes by breaking the rules.
In the interests of protecting people across the country will you now take responsibility
and immediately halt all of your doorstep campaigning activity?
It is on all of us to work together to control the virus, protect the NHS and save lives by
staying at home during this national lockdown.
Yours sincerely,

THE RT. HON. AMANDA MILLING MP

Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party

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