Lichfield Mayor dissociates himself from MP’s “derogatory comments”

At the meeting of Lichfield City Council on 20 April, 2022, Liberal Democrat Leader Councillor Paul McDermott (Stowe ward, pictured here outside Minster Hall) asked Lichfield Mayor Councillor Robert Yardley the following question under Standing Order 82 (a):

Would the Mayor acknowledge the hard work and personal sacrifices of the teachers and medical professionals in Lichfield during the Covid pandemic and would he therefore disassociate himself from the derogatory comments made by our Member of Parliament that they regularly failed to adhere to the Government lockdown rules?

The Mayor's answer to this was a simple "Yes".

Councillor McDermott commented, "Though I am glad that the Mayor has shown himself to be on the side of decency in public office, I find it sad that it took a direct question from another political party for him to state this opinion. We now await similar responses from the local Conservative Association and District Council leaders."