Lib Dems 'profusely apologise' for 'errant volunteer'

A 2021 Focus Calendar was delivered to addresses in Wilton last week, among other items.

Victoria Charleston, Parliamentary Spokesperson for the Salisbury Liberal Democrats, said: "It appears that an errant volunteer found some leaflets upon tidying up after Christmas. He delivered them without checking with the local team first.

"Wiltshire Lib Dems have been clear that we are not delivering during lockdown and have not through any of the lockdowns."

Victoria added that this was an "unfortunate mistake", for which she and her team "apologise profusely to anyone upset".

She added: "All volunteers will be reminded not to deliver during this time.

"I am very proud of the work our teams, particularly in Wilton, have been doing during the pandemic to support our communities."

In the government's lockdown rules, it states you must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary.

You may leave the home to "go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home".

No other political party has been found to be delivering any material in the area - with the Conservative and Labour parties both stopping activists from physical campaigning.

When questioned on this issue on The Andrew Marr Show at the weekend, leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey MP defended leafleting during the pandemic. 

He said: "If its compliant with the guidance, absolutely [we should be leafleting].

"The guidance is clear. It says there is an exemption for volunteer organisations, we've taken legal advice on that, and the advice we've given to all our councillors and volunteers is they need to wear a mask, they need to socially distance, they need to sanitise their hands.

"We're taking all the sorts of precautions that Amazon take, that Royal Mail take."

He added: "Liberal Democrat councillors and community activities have always been a key part of helping people."

Local elections are due to take place in May.