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Local Elections: The rise of the Liberal Democrats in just a couple of years
09/05/2023
The Liberal Democrats have been part of the official opposition at the Council
For the second year running the Local Elections have shown a growth in support for the Liberal Democrats in the Cherwell District. The party gained three seats at last week’s vote – the same number as Labour.
David Hingley was elected for the Liberal Democrats in Adderbury, Bodicote and Bloxham last year. At the count on Friday he said: “It’s a very good day here. If you bear in mind that we didn’t have any councillors in the Banbury constituency part of Cherwell District Council two or three years ago. To come out of it after last year and this year with a lot of councillors is fantastic. We’ve seen this reflected in results of the Liberal Democrats around the region.”
Last year Councillor Hingley took one of the three seats in Adderbury, Bodicote and Bloxham from the Conservatives. This year fellow Liberal Democrat Robert Pattenden did the same, receiving 54% of the vote.
In Bicester North and Caversfield, Liberal Democrat Simon Lytton pushed out Tory Jason Slaymaker, who had been the Vice-Chairman of the Council. Meanwhile in Bicester South and Ambrosden the former Independent Councillor Nick Cotter stood – and won – as a Liberal Democrat this time.
Councillor Hingley says people voting for change: “People are generally fed up with the way the Conservative government is nationally; they’re fed up with the way that the same administration has been in place in Cherwell over the past couple of decades. They’re looking for something different; for parties that actually go out into the community, who live in the community, and will listen to people’s concerns.”
The Liberal Democrats are part of a group called the Progressive Oxfordshire Alliance, which also includes Green and Independent Councillors. This has been the official opposition at Cherwell District Council.
However, whilst the Liberal Democrats have made gains elsewhere around the district they have no seats in Banbury town itself, which has become a Labour stronghold.
With no one political group having enough Councillors to control Cherwell, incumbent and new Liberal Democrat Councillors were planning to meet to decide their priorities. Councillor Hingley said: “We will discuss what we want and the things we would like to achieve. Once we’ve had those discussions there will be discussions with other parties.”
He added: “All the new Liberal Democrat councillors are really looking forward to acting on the things that we’ve been told and getting to work on the Council.”
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam