Labour admit Bicester and Woodstock is between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives

The Labour Party have published a list of all their target seats. There are several in Oxfordshire they are not targeting, including the new constituency seat of Bicester and Woodstock.

Chair of Bicester and Woodstock Liberal Democrats and Cherwell District Councillor for Bicester North, Simon Lytton reacted by saying:

“Labour have confirmed what we already knew, the seat of Bicester and Woodstock is between the Lib Dems and the Tories.

When campaigning on the doorstep, we regularly speak to people here who have been life-long Conservative voters but are fed up with the current Government and switching to us. Some are supporting the Liberal Democrats for the first time and the success we had in May’s local election is gaining momentum.

Labour recognise that in Bicester and Woodstock it’s only the Liberal Democrats who can beat the Tories and represent the new constituency with a local candidate like Calum who will truly represent what we want as our MP. We’ve known this for a while and now Labour are publicly acknowledging it. It sends a clear message to voters that only the Lib Dems can bring change here.”

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Bicester and Woodstock and Oxfordshire County Councillor Calum Miller said:

“I welcome this confirmation from Labour that this is not a target for them but I know that I need to earn the votes of my fellow residents in our area. I’m grateful to all the people who’ve already offered their support or donated to my campaign. I’ve been out every week listening to residents across the new constituency and I am looking forward to meeting more people in the weeks ahead.

It’s clear to me that this Government are on borrowed time. I’ve been struck by how many people who previously supported the Conservatives tell me they plan to vote for me and the Liberal Democrats at the election. Voters have had enough of the squabbling and in-fighting among Conservative ministers and want to have an MP who will stand up for their concerns.

If elected, I will campaign to improve NHS services so people do not have to wait so long for appointments. I will press for tighter regulation of our water companies so they stop polluting our rivers and start investing in the water network. I will argue for housing growth that responds to the needs of local people not national developers.”