COUNCILLOR Tanner (July 7) feels the point of my letter regarding divestment was to sling mud, while citing the reason he voted against divestment being that he knew the Tories would vote against it. That’s the fighting spirit. Who votes the same the way as their opponents?

We all knew the Tories would vote against tackling climate change: they weren’t the ones we were trying to win over, it was Labour and the Lib Dems.

So, when someone marches in favour of divestment, proudly tells the public he’s written to fellow county councillors asking them to vote for divestment, contacts divestment campaigners personally assuring them he’s going to speak in favour of divestment at the county council meeting but then leads the vote against divestment, they shouldn’t be too surprised if they are called out on it.

If Councillor Tanner was genuinely concerned about the wording rather than the aim of the motion – which he’d had sight of for several days – he could have either abstained or worked with campaigners to improve the motion.

It’s encouraging that city council leader, Bob Price, has written a letter asking the county council to consider supporting divestment but as it was written the day after his own party and colleagues voted against divestment, it looks like the wheels have well and truly come off the hybrid car.

Divestment is too important a subject to be this badly mismanaged.

Cllr DAVID THOMAS
Holywell Ward
Oxford Green Party

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