Liberal Democrats suspend Leadership Campaign until May 2021

Today, as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, the Liberal Democrat Federal Board has decided to postpone the leadership election until May 2021.

President of the Liberal Democrats Mark Pack said:

"The country is currently going through our biggest crisis since 1945. Our party has decided that we must put all our attention into dealing with fallout from the Coronavirus.

Responding to reports that the Government has written to all local councils asking them to find homes for all rough sleepers by the weekend of 28/29 March 2020 to protect them from the coronavirus outbreak, Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran said:

"It is right that the Government is taking urgent action to find secure accommodation for rough sleepers, as Liberal Democrats have called for since this crisis began.

"The Government must also equip local authorities with the financial resources to provide sufficient secure emergency accommodation to meet demand. Ministers must also make specialist support available to those who struggle with addiction or other mental health issues, as is the case for so many people sleeping rough right across the UK.

"Ultimately, this annoucement must be the first step towards long term efforts to end rough sleeping, not just in the face of the current crisis. The Government can make that commitment today by supporting my Bill to scrap the Vagrancy Act, repealing a Dickensian law which needlessly criminalises rough sleepers."

Rugby Borough Council has reached an agreement with the Rugby Foodbank to take over the operation of the food bank.

The agreement comes after the food bank had to suspend its operations due to the impact of the coronavirus on their volunteer base and the need to maintain social distancing to keep volunteers and public safe.

Rugby Foodbank have kindly donated their stock which allows the council to start distributing food with no pause in services.

The council will operate the warehousing and distribution of food packages until the food bank is able to return to normal operations.

Today Ed Davey, Acting Leader of the Liberal Democrats, challenged the Chancellor to "move as fast as possible" to roll out a financial support package for the five million self-employed people in the UK.

In an Urgent Question in the House of Commons, Davey highlighted that the self-employed, who are excluded from current financial support for businesses and employees, are under "real stress" and are "literally running out of money" as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

Following his Urgent Question to the Chancellor, Ed Davey said:

"As the days tick on, millions of self-employed - from cleaners to hairdressers from taxi drivers to builders - face mounting worries about their future. Ministers must move far faster to provide help, as they did for businesses and employees.

"Most of the self-employed have very modest incomes and aren't well off. Without help, they won't be able to pay their mortgages, rent and bills, facing ruin."

"Every day of delay increases the strain these millions of individuals are under. That is why - this afternoon - I challenged the Chancellor to explain how he will support self-employed people through this crisis. So far we are just being told by Ministers to wait a little longer.

"Without action, those who are self-employed may be forced to ignore government guidance to stay home and plough on with their work, or face real hardship.

"Last week Liberal Democrats welcomed the Chancellor's financial package for businesses and for employees, but this will remain incomplete and inadequate until we see proper measures for the five million self employed people across the country."

Notes to editors:

Please see below for a transcript of Ed Davey's Urgent Question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the subject of government support for the self-employed.

Ed Davey:

Can I thank the Chief Secretary to the Treasury for that answer.

He knows that parties on all sides of the house have been supportive of the
way the Chancellor and the Treasury have given support to businesses
and to employees, but I have to tell him for the five million self-employed
people across the country, who are in all our constituencies, they are in
real stress.

They are deeply worried and while we all understand there are
complications, the government has to move as fast as possible to meet
their concerns, because they are literally, in many cases, simply running
out of money.

I want to say this to the treasury bench: It's important we remember who the self-employed are. 80 per cent of the five million self-employed are sole traders. They are our neighbours, our friends, our family. The vast majority are not wealthy people; they are cleaners, they are taxi drivers, they are plumbers, they are hairdressers, they are musicians, tutors and journalists they are builders and electricians, they are childminders.

These are people who are literally running out of money now, and we have to support them. Of course there will be those stories of people who are wealthy who are self-employed of, but they are the minority, and if you look at the figures - HMRC's own data - 36 per cent of sole traders (the majority of the self-employed) have taxable incomes of less than £10,000 a year, and that compares with just 15 per cent of employees on incomes that low. So we are talking about people on low incomes. 60 per cent have profits of less than £10,000 a year so these are people who were struggling before the coronavirus pandemic and are now facing ruin.

Mr Speaker, I think that an urgent package of help is needed now, and it needs to be at least the equivalent to that that has been offered to employees.

While we all know the problems that the treasury are facing getting this, can I say to him: if the package is capped in the way it was for the employees, if it is temporary as it was in the case for the employees and if, especially for the self employed, there is some sort of clawback mechanism if people are being given money that they didn't need, then surely we can come together as a house, as a country, to make sure that these people get the support that they need?

It is not uncommon for the self-employed - when they do their annual self-assessment tax return - to have to pay money back to the Treasury. Surely if money is given now so they can deal with the cashflow, capped in a temporary scheme, then that can be clawed back next time they do their self-assessment if it turns out that they didn't need it?

So I honestly urge the Treasury, Mr Speaker, to move fast and not to allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good. People need the money now please, please act now.

On Wednesday 18 March 2020, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey has set up a Coronavirus Community Taskforce to coordinate Liberal Democrat councillors', members', activists' and supporters' response to the Coronavirus crisis in their communities.

Setting up the network of Liberal Democrats across the country, Ed Davey said "we must do everything we can to support our communities during the crisis".

The taskforce will be chaired by Sir Stuart Etherington, the former Chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisation, and will see local Liberal Democrats helping the most vulnerable in their areas during the crisis. The Taskforce looks set to advise and guide thousands of Liberal Democrats right across the UK who want to ensure all those self-isolating, especially the vulnerable and elderly, get the support they need.

As well as helping people with basic supplies, the network of volunteers will help share best practice and the best ideas and ensure those in their communities are able to follow the guidance being put forward.

Following the announcement, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey said:

"The Coronavirus crisis is leaving the most vulnerable in our communities at risk. People across the country are rightly worried about their loved ones, with many more keen to do something to help.

"That is why today I am announcing the Coronavirus Community Taskforce. This will coordinate our network of thousands of Liberal Democrats who want to help those most in need in their communities during the crisis.

"We are in an unprecedented situation and we believe that the Liberal Democrats, with our strong and historic links to local activism and community politics, have a wealth of knowledge and unique ability to go into our communities and offer support. This will be scaling up of what Liberal Democrats do - day in, day out - helping the most vulnerable in our communities".

"I'm delighted Sir Stuart has agreed to chair this new taskforce for our party. He brings huge knowledge, experience and expertise to help guide our work.

"We must do everything we can to support our communities during the crisis. Each and every one us needs to do what we can during this difficult time and I am proud to say that the Liberal Democrats will step up and take that role very seriously."

Chair of the Coronavirus Community Taskforce, Sir Stuart Etherington, said:

"It is critical that vulnerable people in our communities receive the support they need. It will be communities themselves that have to respond to take the pressure off our excellent but hard pressed statutory services.

"It's time for the altruistic instincts of volunteers to play their part and I'm pleased to assist this welcome Liberal Democrat initiative."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats in the House of Lords and Vice-chair of the Coronavirus Community Taskforce, Dick Newby, said:

"We are going to need unprecedented levels of community volunteering to support people required to stay at home because of Covid-19.

"I am delighted that Sir Stuart has agreed to chair this task force to ensure that Liberal Democrat members play their full part in this vital national effort."


The Coronavirus Community Taskforce will be chaired by Sir Stuart Etherington, who was the Chief executive of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations.

As at 4pm on Friday 20 March, Rugby Borough Council has made the following changes to council services in response to the virus outbreak:

• Town Hall reception has now closed to general enquiries and can only help residents in need of urgent support. Please use the main council website to check whether we can help with your enquiry online.
• Attendance at funerals held at Rainsbrook Crematorium and council-run cemeteries are restricted to immediate family.
• The BENN Hall will be closed until the end of May, except for blood donor sessions if requested by the NHS.
• The World Rugby Hall of Fame, the visitor centre and Rugby Art Gallery and Museum will be closed until the end of May.
• All town centre events due to take place in April and May have been postponed, including the planned VE day commemoration due to take place at Whitehall Rec on 8 May and the Bikefest. The Festival of Culture and Food and Drink festival have also been postponed.
• All council-run youth groups have been suspended until the end of May.
• Duty officer drop-in sessions for development control (planning permission) and building control have been suspended. Advice is available via telephone or email.
• The Handyman service has been suspended to provide additional support to the housing maintenance service and protect vulnerable residents.
• All sports pitch bookings and events in council parks, including Parkrun, have been cancelled until the end of May

Following the social distancing measures announced by the Prime Minister on 16 March, Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey has called for the government to bring in "much, much more extensive support for individuals and for businesses at every single level".

Liberal Democrat Acting Leader Ed Davey said:

"People are afraid for their health, but also for their livelihoods. The financial package the Chancellor is expected to announce today must include much, much more extensive support for individuals and for businesses at every single level and across every single region of the country.

"The Government bailed out the banks and the financial sector with hundreds of billions back in 2008. The Government must now be there for millions of businesses, employees and the self-employed - Britain's real economy.

"The Prime Minister was right to advise social distancing, but to do so without formally closing pubs, restaurants, theatres and so forth, he is undermining many firms' insurance cover and writing these businesses into history. The Government's current approach will prevent many businesses from claiming for any losses, which could lead to widespread collapse.

"People want to know that - in the face of this extraordinary crisis - their livelihoods and businesses are secure. It is in the government's power to provide that certainty and the Liberal Democrats urge the Prime Minister to do so with immediate effect."

The Government has announced that the local Council and Police & Crime Commissioner elections due to take place in May 2020 have been postponed until May 2021.

The leaders of the Conservative, Labour and Liberal Democrat groups on Rugby Borough Council have issued the following joint statement:

"The spread of coronavirus is the single largest threat to public health in a generation, and it is right that Rugby Borough Council's resources are focused on supporting essential services rather than on administering elections at this time.

"Postponing these elections will mean that party supporters will not need to deliver leaflets and canvas voters and voters will not need to attend polling stations, meaning that we can support the government's push for social distancing.

"Times such as these give us an opportunity to come together and strengthen our neighbourhoods and communities. Together, we will support the council as it responds to the emerging situation, and we will support our residents as they seek to help each other through their time of need."

Cllr Seb Lowe, Leader of the Conservative group and Leader of Rugby Borough Council
Cllr Maggie O'Rourke, Leader of the Labour group
Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrat group

Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2012 Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD): Consultation 9 March - 20 April 2020

Rugby Borough Council is consulting on a planning document to support the Local Plan 2019.

Comments are being sought on the draft Air Quality Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which aims to provide guidance to support Policy HS5 of the Local Plan and explain the consideration of air quality impacts associated with development proposals. A key purpose of the SPD relates to the mitigation of impacts of air quality, and providing clarity to developers as to how the policy requirements can translate into acceptable mitigation.

The Liberal Democrats have called for the Six Nations to remain on free-to-air TV as speculation mounts Sky will win the rights to show the tournament beyond 2021.

Liberal Democrat Scottish affairs, Welsh affairs and Northern Irish affairs spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain MP has appealed to the UK Government to add the Six Nations to it's 'A list' of sporting events that must be available live on free-to-air TV.

Rules stipulate that the BBC and ITV are unable to jointly bid for the rights, which is how they hold the current rights.

Wendy Chamberlain said:

"The Six Nations is an annual highlight for millions of loyal fans across the UK. The games have been on free-to-air channels for twenty years and it would be absolutely outrageous to restrict them to those who can afford an additional TV package.

"If we want to keep young people engaged in sport and encourage them to take it up, televised games should be accessible to all.

"The Liberal Democrats are calling on Six Nations organisers to ensure the tournament remains free to watch and for the rules to be relaxed so BBC and ITV can once again jointly bid for the right to broadcast it.

"The chance to view our treasured tournaments shouldn't be threatened on a rolling basis. The UK Government should put an end to this reoccurring issue by adding the Six Nations to the list of sporting events that must always be free-to-watch live."

The Six Nations tender document ruled out a joint bid, the format which had previously allowed the BBC and ITV to pool their funds in order to keep the competition on free-to-air TV.

At present the rugby league challenge cup and the rugby union World Cup final are Category A events which must be made available to free-to-air channels.