Banbury candidate interviews: Liz Adams – Liberal Democrat

01/07/2024

“I passionately wanted to change the system to stop people from having to go through what I went through”

Liz Adams is a barrister who works in family and education law now working with some of the most vulnerable people in society. She says standing up for people is what drives her, together with a motivation to change the system for the better.

“I was a victim of domestic violence over a decade ago now,” said Liz. “I worked extremely hard as a single mum, bringing up my children, studying for the career that I have now. I’ve done that because I passionately wanted to change the system to stop people from having to go through what I went through and also to try and make things better for my children.”

Although she lives in the neighbouring Kenilworth and Southam Constituency, a lot of Liz’s work is in Oxfordshire. She is proud of what is being achieved by Liberal Democrats in the Banbury area, who recently took control at Cherwell District Council. Its a district which has seen a lot of development in recent years, but Liz describes the fact we haven’t seen more social housing build a “travesty”.

“I’m 37 and one of the ‘generation renters’ we’ve been deemed. We’ve really struggled to get on the housing ladder and there are lots of people in my position. It’s important that we have a housing strategy and that we do look at where new housing can be built, but it has to be appropriate.”

Looking at the NHS Liz described the state of the service under a Conservative government as “absolutely appalling”. Within the Liberal Democrat’s manifesto are plans for 8,000 more GPs, guaranteed access to an NHS dentist, the right to see a GP within seven days – or 24 hours if it’s urgent – and the party’s cancer guarantee that every patient would start treatment for cancer within two months of an urgent referral.

Liz said reading the Keep The Horton General Maternity dossier had touched her as she had an emergency birth with her first daughter.

“It’s a real travesty that women are having such harrowing stories of births at local hospitals, that our staff, who no doubt are doing their very best, are working with a failing system.

“It’s not acceptable to say to people in labour – especially dangerous labour – that they have to travel 20-25 miles to a hospital far, far away.”

Looking at immigration Liz felt it was important to note the difference between economic migrants and asylum seekers.

“It’s totally degrading to have people holed up in hostels and hotels, especially children. The fact that we still have child detention is not something that I think this country should be doing.

“In terms of economic migration there needs to be a properly fair merit-based visa system. That needs to come hand in hand with consulting with businesses and making sure that people who grow up in the UK, and are educated in the UK, have the skills that businesses are looking for, so they don’t have to keep looking aboard.”

On polling day Liz highlighted what she hoped local voters will remember.

“Every vote for a Lib Dem is a vote for someone who will really listen, who will really stand up for this local area and who will really stand up for people when they have issues and at their time of need.”

You can listen to the full interview here: