Andy Graham

Oxford Mail:

Lib Dem West Oxfordshire district councillor 

As the Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Witney constituency and now the successful district councillor for Charlbury, Finstock and Fawler, I have been able to reflect on what happened at May’s General Election and the local elections in West Oxfordshire.

I am looking forward to a new beginning with Tim Farron, the new Liberal Democrat leader.

Little did I realise, as most of the country, we were to witness such a drubbing for the Liberal Democrats and a surprise return of a Conservative government.

But that is not the whole story despite the blue tide sweeping across councils. Here in Charlbury, Finstock and Fawler, we witnessed the opposite.

A Lib Dem gain with a massive swing of 20 per cent (the only Lib Dem council seat gain in the South of England).

Why did it happen and what will happen next as a result?

Community politics or localism has returned.

People wanted to be heard on the doorstep where it mattered and where local issues needed solutions. The people on the doorstep liked what they heard because they were being listened to. That’s what they voted for.

Since the election, the party membership in the Witney constituency has increased like elsewhere in the country. More than 50 people joined within a week, increasing the membership by a third, and it is now 150-strong with many new members coming from Witney itself.

We have Tim Farron as a new leader, disassociated from the establishment and a strong believer in community politics.

Here in West Oxfordshire, we share that commitment, believing once again in more people making decisions locally; communities working together, protecting the environment yet building enough affordable homes with well-thought out infrastructure to accommodate the local people.

We are pleased to support solar power community schemes which have more vested interest in sustainable, energy schemes than the monopoly companies – planning permission in Charlbury has just been approved for a solar farm.

We will protect animal rights and animal welfare with effective countryside management.

We will continue to protect our village services, particularly our post offices, and prevent closures through community pressure and engagement. It is working – Charlbury’s post office is still up and running despite threatened reduction of service.

Localism has and can work and the Liberal Democrats will be at the forefront both nationally and locally.

The more people see this happening in their local areas, the more the vote for the Liberal Democrats will significantly increase. Who knows what that can lead to? A district council not controlled by one party as at present but a council reflecting the parties who truly represent them.