Over the weekend, Labour announced how we want to bring real change across Oxfordshire with the launch of our 2025 Manifesto. We’re campaigning on six clear priorities ahead of the elections to Oxfordshire County Council on Thursday 1 May – putting more money in your pocket, rebuilding our NHS and social care, stopping the transport nightmare, cracking down on crime, growing places to be proud of, and breaking down barriers to opportunity.

“This manifesto is our roadmap to how we move forward further and faster to repair the damage done to our communities and our public services,” says Cllr Liz Brighouse, Leader of the Labour & Co-op Group on Oxfordshire County Council.  “It’s about how we restore pride to where we live, put people before profit, and build a fairer, greener County. A Labour County Council working hand in hand with the Labour Government would turbo-charge what we can do for local people. Change starts with voting Labour on Thursday 1 May.”

Labour wants to establish strong foundations for good local government through stable finances, trusted leadership, and clear priorities:

• Put more money in your pocket: Labour would prioritise new well-paid jobs, more affordable homes, clean energy projects, reduced childcare costs to help cut bills, and raise pay. We’re campaigning for a new stadium for Oxford United FC at the Kidlington Triangle, supporting new rail schemes including the Cowley Branch Line and Witney-Carterton link, and backing the Oxford-Cambridge Growth Corridor. 
• Rebuild our NHS and social care: Labour would deliver a National Care Service and bring adult social care provided at home in-house or through co-operatives. We would prioritise prevention and early treatment by working closely with GPs and local communities.
• Stop the transport nightmare: Labour would change the way the County Council operates so that it listens to residents and bring our communities back together on transport – especially on issues like Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, and proposals for six new bus gates which Labour wants to stop. We’re campaigning to bring our buses in-house so we can control fares, routes, and timetables. We would invest in new and existing pavements and cycleways – and fight potholes all across the County. 
• Crack down on crime: Labour would guarantee a named police officer for every community and take real action on speeding and dangerous or nuisance parking. We will keep opposing plans to turn our street lights off at night across Oxfordshire as this would be harmful to many women, shift workers, and vulnerable people.
• Grow places to be proud of: Labour would expand the use of climate finance to speed up the County Council’s plans for net zero carbon by 2040. We would work closely with local communities, major employers, local authorities, and public sector bodies to invest in the recovery of our precious natural environment and green spaces – increasing tree cover and green infrastructure. Working in partnership with the Labour Government, we’re committed to forcing the water industry to clean up their act.
• Break down barriers to opportunity: Labour would deliver free breakfast clubs in every primary school as soon as possible while establishing new youth and family hubs to support families and children. We would restore trust in Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) provision by working closely with parents and children to reform the system and providing more and better impartial advice.

At the launch, Cllr Liz Brighouse, Leader of the County Labour & Co-op Group highlighted the difference that Labour has already made locally – and the need to move forward further and faster. “When people ask us, ‘What has Labour ever done for us?’, we need to be clear. It was Labour that saved the County Youth Service. It was Labour that saved home-to-school transport for special needs children. And it was Labour that delivered almost £3 million in cost of living support, extended the Household Support Fund, and funded local advice centres. We added £5 million to fix potholes last year – and more this year as well. But we want to and must do more. We’re pushing to take our buses back in-house, campaigning for more homes and well-paid jobs, and the reforms to childcare costs and SEND systems that families desperately need.”

Anneliese Dodds, MP for Oxford East said: “We need to have a strong Labour voice in our county. There’s a huge amount of growth and innovation here but with the high cost of living too many people are struggling – and that’s why we need to have strong Labour voices speaking up for our communities and delivering on public services. We’ve already delivered 2 million NHS appointments 7 months early, created GB Energy, lifted the ban on new onshore wind, and we are putting into place a generational change in workers’ rights. This is the chance for a Labour County Council to deliver real change hand in hand with our Labour Government.”

Sean Woodcock, MP for Banbury said: “Look how far we’ve come since around this time last year. We’re ending no-fault evictions after years of broken Tory promises, investing in our communities, and delivering for working people. It’s an honour to continue standing up for the people of Banbury.”

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NOTES  FOR EDITORS: 

For interviews, please contact Cllr Liz Brighouse on 07710 451 769.