POLITICAL parties in Worcester who continued to canvas over the weekend of Prince Philip’s death were “disrespectful” a councillor has said.

Cllr Marc Bayliss, leader of Worcester City Council, hit out at the city's Liberal Democrats and Green Party after both parties were seen continuing to canvas for the May elections despite a nationwide halt following the Duke’s death.

He said: “I was astonished and saddened to hear on Saturday that less than 24 hours after the passing of the Duke of Edinburgh, Lib Dems and Green Party candidates were out canvassing and leafleting in the City.

“Having served our country for over 70 years the Duke’s death was a moment for national reflection and I believed that all political parties had agreed to a moratorium until tomorrow (Tuesday) as a mark of respect.

“I realise the Greens are anti-monarchy but even for them this is a new low. I know that Labour have observed this protocol and thank them for doing so.

“Some things in life are above politics and the death of the Queen’s consort is certainly one of them. I hope the Lib Dems and Greens are, on reflection, ashamed of their actions.

“The Conservatives will again be refraining from campaigning on this coming Saturday, the day of the Duke’s funeral.”

Simon Cottingham, spokesman for Worcester Liberal Democrats, said: "I think Councillor Bayliss must have missed the irony in his statement to you, on the one hand saying the Duke's death is above politics and on the other trying to gain political points from the Duke's death with his statement.

"I think Prince Philip will be rolling his eyes from the grave. We will not be campaigning on Saturday, the day of the funeral."

A spokesperson for Worcester Green Party said: “The Green Party has expressed condolences to the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family following the sad news of the Duke of Edinburgh’s passing.

“It is very disappointing that other political parties are exploiting this news to create negative headlines in the run-up to the local elections.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer spoke last Friday (April 9) and agreed a pause to campaigning for the weekend.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “In light of the sad news from Buckingham Palace all campaigning will be paused until further notice.”

For Labour, a spokesman said: “As a mark of respect following the sad death of His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, the Labour Party has today suspended all campaigning.”

The Liberal Democrats also confirmed they would be suspending their national election campaign on Friday. The Green Party also announced via its website that campaigning had been suspended following the Prince’s death.