Make improvements to Republican attitude (6)

I believe the answer is:

repair

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'make improvements' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

'republican attitude' is the wordplay.
'republican' becomes 'rep'.
'attitude' becomes 'air' (I've seen this before).
'rep'+'air'='REPAIR'

'to' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for repair that I've seen before include "Restore to working condition" , "Mend - go" , "Mend, put right" , "Correct" , "retire" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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