"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my reputation!" From 'Othello' by William Shakespeare, Act II, Scene III, line 254.

Schools are going back and in a September Summer sun bags are packed with freshly acquired pencils and course-work. I suspect former Prime Minister John Major studied, as millions have and will, Shakespeare's play 'Othello.' Iago an evil ensign, disappointed in promotion, takes revenge by convincing his General, Othello, that his wife Desdemona has committed adultery. Cassio, a supporter of Othello's gets horribly drunk and disgraces himself. As a teenager I found Cassio's speech about reputation funny. I think I missed the point!

So I definitely have certifiable 'Mask Rage'.

As a matter of principle I've started asking people in public spaces (where the wearing of face coverings is mandated - such as on public transport and in shops) why they aren't wearing masks. I'm always polite. I'm always ready to accept there may be a good reason - I suffer from asthma so I know it's not a great experience. Alas invariably I am received with abuse, 'effing and blinding'.

Following the full Council meeting held on the 26th August 2020, the four Liberal Democrat Councillors who stood on Mid Devon District Council Cabinet have been removed. The move by the Leader of the Council, Cllr Bob Deed, follows from an initial amendment put forward by Lib Dem group leader Luke Taylor to withdraw from the controversial Greater Exeter Strategic Plan (GESP). The amendment was passed 7-1 (with only the Leader voting against).

Should we have been surprised by the Tories' exams fiasco?

Even accepting that the Cabinet has been filled by Prime Minister Johnson with Yes-woman and Yes-men, more for their loyalty than their ability, we really shouldn't be surprised.

This is a Government that sees us, its citizens, as data-points not people. We are here to be modelled. Algorithms are to be applied to decide how we'll behave and what we'll do. We are reduced to the lowest common denominator. The herd. (Tellingly the Conservatives' early objective in the COVID-19 crisis was to achieve 'herd immunity' - not really a very attractive way to describe the UK population.)

In the surveys we've conducted of local people's concerns the one that nearly always tops the list of worries is the state of our roads, and, specifically potholes.

We've been campaigning hard (read article) to get Conservative run Devon County Council to get the roads repaired. It's especially important now given that many more people have taken to bikes during the COVID-19 crisis and potholes are a very serious threat to cyclists.

"Slow, inconsistent and negligent approach" to social care in pandemic.

Not our words but those of one of the most senior House of Commons Committees, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

…slow

There have been some successes by the Government during the COVID-19 crisis, the Nightingale Hospitals a clear one, but a worryingly large number of failures. Especially when taken in the context of comparisons with similar developed countries. It's no great accolade when the only western country making the United Kingdom look good during this crisis is Trump's America.

Time for Change. Time for a Green 'New Deal'.

The responses to our survey into a #postcovid19 United Kingdom make it clear that you want to #BuildBackBetter and that now is the time to embrace change and not, as the Conservatives appear to be doing, re-embracing the 'old normal'.

A whopping 83.7% of you said that now was the 'time to try and change things for the better' in comparison to a mere 7% who felt we should 'get back to normal'.

Lib Dem Cabinet Member for Finance, Alex White has spearheaded free car parking in the three towns of Mid Devon in a major boost to our retailers.

Alex has been acutely aware of the huge impact of the lockdown on all of our retailers in Mid Devon and was determined to support them as much as possible.
Therefore, after discussions with retailers, he decided that action needed to be taken to support our high streets in Mid Devon post lockdown and offering free car parking for 2 hours will encourage shoppers to continue shopping locally.
The lockdown period has seen shops, businesses and restaurants closed for many months and Alex is very aware of the economic impact this has had on local traders and jobs.
From 1st August to the 30th September visitors will be able to claim two hours free parking in selected car parks in Crediton, Tiverton and Cullompton.
The following car parks will allow a two hour free parking period between 8am and 6pm:

At a meeting of the full council of Mid Devon held on 1st July, the Tories in Mid Devon demonstrated that they are not serious about tackling climate change. A motion was presented to council by Councillor Holdman and Councillor Taylor to hold briefings for councillors virtually in future where 'practicable' in order to reduce carbon emissions by councillors attending meetings and to reduce the amount of money claimed by councillors in expenses. Furthermore, the motion sought to lobby government to allow councils to continue to allow councillors to attend meetings virtually if they so wished. The motion passed at council by 21 votes to 18, with every Conservative member voting against.

Why Roosevelt's New Deal was different from Johnson's New(ish) Deal

It is widely acknowledged that President Roosevelt's 'New Deal' (launched in 1933 in response to America's Great Economic Depression) was a huge social and economic success. So it is perhaps unsurprising that Prime Minister Johnson wants to ride on the great man's coattails by inviting comparisons with his own (less ambitious) 'New(ish) Deal'.