Leaders of flag-raising group Raise the Colours Oxfordshire placed trackers on highway workers’ cars to find out their home addresses, the High Court has heard. RTC then attempted to intimidate the highway staff into no longer removing flags by repeating their addresses to them.

A landlord renting out a property on Headley Way, Oxford, has been fined over £23k after failing to license a rented property which was also damp, mouldy, electrically faulty, cold, and in disrepair. www.oxford.gov.uk/news/article...

I’m so tired of antisocial people on public transport blaring out TikTok videos and the like. Just confronted a guy on the 400 who got really aggressive with me, to the point that some people had to intervene on my side.

On-the-ground work has started on reopening the Cowley Branch Line to passenger trains. Preparatory work begins today and continues into mid-August, including site mobilisation, vegetation clearance, ground investigations and ecology surveys. Trains are expected to start running in 2029.

“A home’s current value” = bad policy “A land’s current value divided by it’s occupiers” = great policy

Politics UK@politicsuk.com · last wk.

🚨 NEW: Andy Burnham is strongly considering replacing council tax and stamp duty with a 0.48% annual tax on a home's current value

🚨 NEW: The Government has charged the ex CEO of Southern Water with conspiracy to defraud after allegedly manipulating water quality tests

Awful, awful awful

Oxford Clarion@oxfordclarion.bsky.social · last mo.

After a report, published in 2010 by Oxford City Council, identified “loss of traditional stone boundary walls” as a particular vulnerability in Headington Quarry Conservation Area, Oxfordshire County Council has decided to take down a stone boundary wall and replace it with a metal railing.

After a report, published in 2010 by Oxford City Council, identified “loss of traditional stone boundary walls” as a particular vulnerability in Headington Quarry Conservation Area, Oxfordshire County Council has decided to take down a stone boundary wall and replace it with a metal railing.

Applications are now open for the Government’s Youth Jobs Grant, offering a £3,000 hiring bonus to employers who recruit young people that have been out of work for six months or more. A real win for young people—and for businesses too. Find out more here: www.gov.uk/government/p...

Youth Jobs Grant

Information for employers applying for grant funding to deliver the Youth Jobs Grant.

gov.uk

Alas, the freemen of Oxford once again beat the Sherriff’s team in the annual game of Aunt Sally. Our team managed to take a leg, which we were very proud of, but ultimately my inability to score was too much to overcome. The top scoring Freemen was additionally awarded a real human femur (?) that…

A large demonstration is underway in Oxford city centre against the presence of a far-right agitator at the student debating society on St Michael’s Street. We are choosing not to give the society the publicity it desperately craves, but this sign encapsulates our thoughts.

A national report on prisons and immigration detention centres criticises ‘the continued and seemingly uncontrolled presence of spiders’ at Bicester’s HMP Bullingdon (pictured), with bites severe enough to need hospital admission. In one case, a prisoner was warned that he could lost his leg.

Cherwell District Council has been placed into special measures for planning applications. Developers can now choose to apply directly to the Government for major applications, bypassing Cherwell entirely – potentially including warehouse sites, the Puy du Fou theme park, and housing developments.

A complete violation of the town and gown balance, closing the entirety of Cornmarket in order for the Oxford Union to platform the far-right, utterly ridiculous

Oxford Clarion@oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Streets immediately surrounding a student ‘debating’ society in Oxford will be closed next Wednesday afternoon and evening. Buses will be diverted from Queen St after 4 pm with additional closures in Cornmarket, Market St, Ship St, and St Michael's St. A significant police presence is also expected.

Pointing out that the UK is not even in the top 20 most LGBTQIA+ friendly countries in Europe, Oxfam says it stands against all oppression and discrimination as it drives inequality, increases people’s chance of living in poverty, causes harm, and prevents people from upholding their rights.

Rainbow Map

Europe's LGBTI Rights Rankings 2026

rainbowmap.ilga-europe.org

Cowley Road Carnival will return as a “focused” event on 20 September, building up to a full carnival in 2027. New trustee Alan Brown, whose background includes Flo Fest and Leys Festival, said “2026 is about a tight, well-delivered event that gives us the platform to go bigger and better in 2027.”

Around 180 residents marched in Oxford in support of trans rights today, following the government’s latest draft code of practice from the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Opponents have called the guidance ‘unworkable’ and say it amounts to an attack on trans and non binary people.

Labour for Trans Rights can in no way support the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s draft Code of Practice. The text differs minimally from the draft version that was leaked last year. (1/3)

Cllr Baines, (Lab, Isis), echoes other members' frustration, supports Cllr Middleton's request for a full report and additionally asks what the new leader is going to change and why.

If there happens to be anyone considering standing for Labour leader, then this is worth reading and reflecting on. You may have wanted this issue to go away but it’s going to be part of the debate. #labourparty #labourleadership @andyburnham.bsky.social @wesstreeting.bsky.social @.bsky.social

Trans+ Solidarity Alliance@transsolidarity.bsky.social · 3mo ago

📊 NEW: Among 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Green voters overall and Labour > Green defectors, more people cite support for trans and other minority rights as a major reason than Palestine, housing or the cost of living. Trans rights issues don't decide elections, but they remain a high saliency issue for progressive voters.

Chaos at County Hall today! An hour after the new Cabinet was presented to Council by the Leader, we find out that Liz Leffman has been dumped by her Lib Dem group and a Special Council meeting will be called to agree a successor. What is going on? news.oxfordshire.gov.uk/leadership-h...

Leadership handover at Oxfordshire County Council

Councillor Liz Leffman has announced her intention to step down as leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the county council, and as leader of Oxfordshire County Council.The new leader for the…

news.oxfordshire.gov.uk

Last one of the night: Northfield Brook sees a return to the council for Labour’s Trish Elphinstone. The party will be particularly happy about this – not just because it’s a Labour *gain* compared to yesterday (ind elected as Labour in 2022). 🌹 Lab 488 ➡️ Reform 367 💚 Green 207 🔵 Con 82 🔶 LibDem 62

A very convincing Labour hold in Headington Hill & Northway for James Taylor. This was very marginal in last year’s by-election, suggesting the Independent Oxford Alliance are going backwards. 🌹 Lab 650 🟪 IOA 427 💚 Green 238 ➡️ Reform 127 🔵 Con 85 🔶 LibDem 48 🔴 TUSC 8

We are delighted to correct our earlier omission.

Oxford Clarion@oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 3mo ago

We regret that we don’t have a photo to accompany this, but Labour’s Mike Rowley is wearing his customary pair of shorts watching the piles of votes mounting up in Barton. Also watching is Hao Du, the sole Reform councillor on Oxfordshire County Council: this is a prime Reform target.

🚨 BREAKING: Donald Trump has lifted all tariffs on Scottish whiskey and bourbon following a request from the King

This is completely disgusting

Baby octopus@mancalled.horse · 3mo ago

Scottish Labour reaching new depths of transphobia and misogyny. Both the Green and SNP candidates ARE CIS WOMEN you paternalistic bigoted prick.

Step this way for your Oxfordshire news - Tuesday's Clarion is out! This week includes... 🐼MPs with pandas 🚴‘Quarry Roubaix’ 🪳Tiny bugs 🎼A 10-hour choral marathon 🚆More trains 🚨A long read on potholes (!), and another on planning.. Read online, or in your inbox, and if you like it, do share!

The Clarion, 21 April 2026

MPs with pandas, ‘Quarry Roubaix’, tiny bugs, a 10-hour choral marathon, more trains. We love writing about this city. And then there’s potholes… This week’s long reads We know, we don't write abou...

oxfordclarion.uk

The deadline to register to vote in the 7 May local government elections is 11.59 pm tonight. www.gov.uk/register-to-...

Register to vote

Register to vote to take part in elections in the UK. Includes how to get on the electoral register and how to update your address on the register.

gov.uk

Thank you to the members of @labour4transrights.bsky.social for coming out to support us in Headington Hill & Northway and Barton & Sandhills today in getting Trans-allies re-elected to Oxford City Council. #oxfordlocalelections #transrights

The hard hitting political commentary* you were looking for to brighten your week. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep - we've rounded up our local politicians' pets in something you should in no way use as a voting aid. Enjoy. *90% fluff.

Political pets

You might have received a leaflet through your letterbox castigating your local council for wasting money on “pet projects”. We thought that was too good to pass up. Politicians all have their pet pr...

oxfordclarion.uk