Green leader gets a seat at Lib Dem cabinet

Green Party member Jacqi Hodgson has been given a seat in the Liberal Democrat cabinet’s new administration on Devon County Council.

The Totnes & Dartington councillor, who is now in her third term at County Hall having first being elected in 2017, is the only member of the 10-strong cabinet from another party besides the Lib Dems.
The move could be vital for the Liberal Democrat party, led by Cllr Julian Brazil (Kingsbridge), which is the biggest group following the Devon County Council elections but is short of an overall majority.
The party secured 27 seats out of the total 60, meaning it is short of the 31 absolute majority that the Conservatives enjoyed prior to the local elections.
The Tories were left with a rump of seven seats.
Cllr Hodgson, as leader of a political group that encompasses her party and the two independent members, means she overseas an eight-strong team.
Reform UK leader Michael Fife Cook (Yelverton Rural) questioned the composition of the cabinet, asking how the council could be inclusive if some parties weren’t represented in cabinet.
Cllr Brazil, who was elected as the leader of the council at the first full council meeting of the new administration (Thursday 22 May), said he “understands the frustration”.
He noted that Cllr Hodgson also sat on the cabinet at the Lib Dem-led South Hams District Council, showing that he was open to representation on it from other parties.
Addressing Cllr Fife Cook’s question, he added: “Your voice will be listened to, but not as members of cabinet at this stage.”
Cllr Brazil had previously stated that he wanted the council to be as “inclusive as possible” and that he “genuinely feels that’s what we should do”.
“All voices will be listened to, and if there is a good idea that will be accepted,” he said.
“I want to get rid of the Punch and Judy approach to politics. We owe it to our electorate, they have spoken and want us to do it a different way.
“Where we agree, we should all pull together to come up with the best solutions.”