Until 2019, the South Oxfordshire District Council (SODC) was a Tory controlled council. Then, during the local elections of that year, they lost to ‘No overall control’. It was then run by a coalition of Liberal Democrats and the Green Party councillors.
This is one of the councils that has all of its seats up for election every 4 years with a majority of 19 needed to form a council. But, four years later, in May 2023, the election saw the Conservatives lose totally to the Lib/Dem-Green coalition, with only one Tory councillor being elected to SODC.
The Council is now made up of that solitary Conservative with three Labour, three ‘Henley Residents Group’, 21 Lib/Dem and eight Green Councillors.
Interviewed in the videos are Ed Sadler of the Liberal Democrats and Ali Cordon-Creed of the Greens, both councillors for the Chinnor Ward on the SODC.
With any coalition, there are many things that can be agreed upon. The Lib Dems and Greens that run the SODC found this when they agreed to work together. On issues like social housing, environment, travel and sustainable housing, these two parties find themselves aligned.
But what does the future hold? If these parties can work on a local level, is it possible for them to work on a Westminster Level? The Lib/Dems, Green Party and Labour are all expecting to field candidates in Henley constituency at the next General Election when John Howell, the sitting Tory MP, will be standing down. How will they work together?
Watch these two videos made by West England video contributor, Alan Dixon, to find out.
Part One:
Part Two:
Ed: West England Bylines does not support any particular political party. We do however give space to those who promote progressive and sustainable goals.
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