Coronavirus: Julie Dore to stay on as leader of Sheffield Council so she can "be here during difficult period"

Coun Dore previously announced she would vacate the role at this year's local elections but they have been postponed until 2021 to prevent the spread of covid-19.

When asked if she will still step down as planned, she said: "Is that thought at the forefront of my mind? Absolutely not. In fact, it couldn’t be further from the mind to be not here at all.

"I’m taking each day as it comes. I think we’re in extremely worrying times. As we heard the deparment for public health say, he’s fearful, I’m fearful - we all have families and vulnerable relatives and friends. But also for me, I’m extremely fearful of the impact it could be having on people of Sheffield.

“I’ve said many times about how I worry for vulnerable people in Sheffield and I feel like something like this will just increase those vulnerabilities hundred-fold.

"We do know that people are already going hungry and having to turn to food banks so that’s definitely going to increase, we know people are fearful of losing their homes because they are not in secure tenancies or struggle to pay their rent and mortgages, we know people are on insecure contracts and there is an increase in domestic violence and exploitation. So something like this can only increase that vulnerability. That already weighs on my mind, which is why I do what I do to protect it so, I’m not thinking about leaving.

“I was hoping to go on the 7th of May, that is not going to happen now. At a point where I’m able to reconsider that is when I will be thinking about my future but my future is so far removed from the forefront of my mind it doesn’t exist in it.

“So I’m here until further notice and I will be here through this difficult period.”

The virus has so far killed more than 100 people in the UK, with rising cases across South Yorkshire.

Central government is due to announce legislation that will clarify how local authorities operate during this time.