I AM puzzled that David Nation should write about what he calls local Labour people's hypocrisy, when he begins his letter by telling us that he, a local Liberal Democrat politician, does not support actions his party is taking in national government.

Does he not think Nick Clegg and other Lib Dems in the cabinet - who have supported policies which they previously opposed - are hypocritical?

Or that local Lib Dems are hypocritical for not supporting their leaders?

He points out that the Conservative Party is the larger party in government with the greater say, but surely he must recognise that it is the Lib Dems who enable the Tories to carry through their extreme actions.

The Liberal Democrat Party is providing cover for the Tories. It is the Fig Leaf Party.

We make no apology for complaining that the coalition is cutting back hugely on what had, under Labour, been publicly funded; and is opening the door to creeping privatisation of many essential public services under the guise of localism and the Big Society

With regard to the specific issue of academies, I would suggest that some essential differences between Labour's version of academies and the government's are being ignored.

I would draw attention, particularly, to the severe curtailment (in the present version) of academies' accountability to local people, including present and future parents.

The lack of democracy is staggering. It should be noted that the Labour Party attempted to change some of the worst aspects of the new kind of academies during the Second Reading of the Academies Bill.

It is true that for many years there has been little Labour Party activity in our area. But I believe that the excellent general election campaign fought by our candidate, Moira Macdonald, has re-energised members as well as supporters.

Membership of the Central Devon Constituency Labour Party has greatly increased since May and all three of our branches - including the one based on Crediton - are meeting regularly.

So I think you may expect a lot more activity from us in the future.

Yes, we shall oppose cuts in public funding, the setting up of academies and the disastrous changes to the NHS, but also campaign in favour of policies such as much tougher action on bankers whose greed and irresponsibility played such a huge part in creating the collapse of our economy.

Pamela Galloway

Elmside

East Leigh

Crediton