Manifesto Launch Press Release

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing , John Healey, MP joins Oxford Labour to launch
its election manifesto for the local city council elections

Today (Tuesday March 27) Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, John Healey MP is in the
city to kick off Oxford Labour’s City Council election campaign and the launch of its new
manifesto, committed to making Oxford a fairer place of opportunity for everyone.

Shadow Secretary of State for Housing , John Healey, MP joins Oxford Labour to launch
its election manifesto for the local city council elections.

Top of an extensive list of radical proposals are plans to tackle Oxford’s growing housing crisis,
with hundreds of new affordable homes, more social housing, and investments in services to
support rough sleepers to move off the streets and into secure homes and jobs.

Measures to make Oxford a cleaner and greener City also feature prominently in the manifesto,
with plans for more recycling, encouraging electric car use, and the first stages of the Zero
emissions zones in the city centre.

The launch will take place at St Alban’s Church Hall, (corner of Catherine and Charles
Street), OX4 3AH at Ipm when John Healey MP joins Councilllor Susan Brown, Leader of
Oxford City Council, and Labour Councillors, candidates, members and supporters to outline the
plans.

It is no coincidence Oxford Labour is teaming up with Labour’s national spokesman of housing,
John Healey, MP, for the launch. On the doorstep, the need for more social housing, and
support for Labour’s aim of ending rough sleeping are key issues for local people.

John Healey MP said ” It is great to be back in Oxford for the campaign launch. Oxford City
Council is a housing trailblazer, among the top English Councils committed to building more
social housing for rent, and investing millions in refurbishing its tower blocks with the best fire
safety measures. The next Labour Government will enable other Councils to follow Oxford’s
example.

With the Conservatives in government at Westminster, the front line of defence for millions of
people is Labour in local government. We need more Labour councillors in Oxford to stand up
for their city”.

Cllr Susan Brown, the recently elected Labour Leader of Oxford City Council, said ” The
manifesto outlines the next steps to ensure Oxford is a great place for everyone to live and work
in. It has bold plans for delivering more homes at affordable rents, tackling rough sleeping,
making Oxford a cleaner and greener city, and supporting healthy living with great sports and
cycling facilities.

“It is also a “no cuts” plan for the city. Unlike Tory Councils who are shredding vital local
services all across England, we are committed to fighting austerity, investing in public services
and supporting our less well off citizens with benefit and debt support, and enabling them to
secure decent housing. The Tories say they care but do nothing. We care and we act.”
In more detail, the manifesto outlines how over the next four years Oxford Labour will :

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS
Build 1000 new affordable homes with support from the £215M Oxfordshire Housing and
Growth Deal.
Increase spending by 33% from £1.4M to £1.8M (with £1M in reserve) to tackle
homelessness and rough sleeping in a partnership with charities and other voluntary
bodies with the objective of ensuring that no one has to sleep rough in Oxford.
Work with neighbouring authorities to secure high quality urban extensions that will
increase the availability of affordable homes.
Retain a 50% affordable housing requirement for all new developments
Continue our programme of major improvements and renovation to our 8000 Council
homes, including regeneration of the centre of Blackbird Leys, the East Oxford
Community centre site, and the completion of the refurbishment of Oxford’s Tower
blocks

A CLEANER AND GREENER OXFORD
Tackle air pollution, supporting the Zero Emission Zone for central Oxford (the first in
England) and the introduction of more electric vehicles through new public and private
charging points across the city.
Reduce Oxford’s carbon footprint, and continue to increase recycling rates, especially for
food and green waste.
Act to reduce plastic waste and increase the availability of water in shops, cafes and
through public water fountains
Make Oxford a great cycling city, with more segregated cycle lanes, more cycle parking
and successful rent-a- bike schemes.

ENJOYABLE AND AFFORDABLE LEISURE FOR EVERYONE
Strongly support grassroots sport, backing local clubs with good facilities, and launching
a new centre for football, rugby, athletics, cricket and softball at Horspath
Support the development of popular sports, including gymnastics, dance and boxing
Maintain and improve the quality of our recreation grounds at Donnington and Northway
Keep our leisure facilities affordable, with free swimming lessons for young people and
low prices for people with low incomes
Redevelop the City of Oxford Museum to become a unique showcase for a popular
history of the city and a major recreational resource
TACKLING TORY AUSTERITY AND FIGHTING POVERTY
Promote the Oxford Living Wage as the minimum rate of pay for all employees, and
require it for all Oxford City Council staff and contractors.
Invest in community advice services to tackle poverty and shield families with low pay
and benefits from rises in Council Tax
Provide loans to support individuals waiting for Universal Credit payments
Maintain our community grants progamme
Work with our unions to develop our trading companies to protect jobs and increase
income to be invested in City services
Say no to privatisation and outsourcing of vital public services

NOTES TO EDITORS
The above is a summary of the main points of the manifesto. To access full manifesto go online
at www.oxfordlabour.org.uk/manifesto
John Healey MP, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Housing, and Susan Brown, Leader of
the Oxford City Council, will be available for interview at the launch event and by arrangement
during the day.
There will be photo opportunities at the launch.