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Draft:Independent Oxford Alliance

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Independent Oxford Alliance
LeaderDavid Henwood
RegisteredJanuary 30, 2024 (2024-01-30)
IdeologyLocalism
Anti-LTN sentiment
Colors    Purple and Yellow
Oxford City Council
4 / 48
Website
https://independentoxfordalliance.org/

The Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) is a British political party based in Oxford founded in 2023[1] to contest that year's election to the Oxford City Council. It currently has four members on the council, and unsuccessfully ran a candidate in Oxford East at the 2024 United Kingdom general election. The party also intends to run candidates for wards within Oxford in the 2025 Oxfordshire County Council elections.

The party is opposed to the use of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to reduce car use within Oxford, as well as other related measures such as bus gates and the expansion of the Zero Emission Zone.

History

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The Independent Oxford Alliance was launched in November 2023[1] but was not formally registered with the Electoral Commission until January 30, 2024. [2]

In the run up to the 2024 City Council elections the party was criticised in an open letter by Annelise Dodds, the incumbent MP for Oxford East, and Susan Brown, the leader of the council, for posts made on social media by party chair Anne Gwinnett and candidate for Barton and Sandhills Chaka Artwell.[3] Dodds called the behaviour of some senior figures in the party "appalling", saying the views expressed by these individuals would "shock the vast majority of Oxford residents". Gwinnet called the letter an attempt to "distract attention" and "a coordinated political attack".[4]

In the 2024 City Council elections the party stood candidates in 10 of the 24 wards, concentrating its efforts in East Oxford. It won in four of them: Lye Valley, Rose Hill and Iffley, Littlemore, and Cowley.[5] Additionally, it endorsed and campaigned with Mohammed Azad[6], an independent candidate in Temple Cowley, who also won his seat.[5]

At the 2024 general election, the party fielded a candidate in Oxford East: David Henwood, the party leader and councillor in Rose Hill and Iffley. He came fifth with 6% of the vote, saving his deposit.[7]

Platform

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The party does not have a formal manifesto but describes its five "shared priorities" as:

  • Transport
  • Housing
  • Care and Wellbeing
  • Education
  • "Open for Business"[8]


Electoral performance

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UK General Elections

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Election Constituency Candidate Position Votes %
2024 Oxford East David Henwood 5th 2,381 6.1

Oxford City Council

[edit]
Election Seats ± Position Total votes % Control
2024
4 / 25
Increase4 4th 6,200 15.5% No overall control



References

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  1. ^ a b Bird, Steve (25 November 2023). "Oxford's road 'havoc' prompts new grassroots political party". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ "Registration summary". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  3. ^ Dodds, Annelise. "An open letter from myself and @CllrSusanBrown to 'Oxford Independent Alliance' candidates👇". X / Twitter. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  4. ^ Quarshi, Noor (2 May 2024). "Oxford 'anti-LTN' party criticised just before elections". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Oxford City Council election results - 2 May 2024". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  6. ^ "In Temple Cowley this morning with Mohammed Azad. Members of IOA team supporting independent candidates for a better Oxford. 💪". X / Twitter. Independent Oxford Alliance.
  7. ^ "General election results - Oxford East constituency - 4 July 2024". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  8. ^ "OUR SHARED PRIORITIES". Independent Oxford Alliance. Retrieved 6 July 2024.