Councils adapt Philip mourning plans to comply with social distancing
Social distancing and purdah requirements have added complexity to councils’ operations to lead the local mourning for the Duke of Edinburgh, who died today.
While councils are all believed to have had long-standing plans prepared in advance on how to respond to Prince Philip’s death, many had modified them prior to today in light of the pandemic.
And with the 99-year-old consort’s death occurring during the pre-election purdah period, all council communications have to conform to strict political impartiality rules, with many press releases quoting mayors, chairs, lord lieutenants and chief executives instead of council leaders.