Teacher and health worker take fight to council in Oxford

Lobbying Oxford council, January 2014

Lobbying Oxford council, January 2014   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

Oxford Socialist Party members

Teacher Stella Collier and health worker James Morbin are standing for TUSC (see below) on the Blackbird Leys estate in city and county council by-elections on 27 November.

Rather than stand up and fight wage cuts and privatisation, or back strikers fighting for a wage rise, Labour councils like Oxford have meekly carried out Con-Dem attacks.

Stella and James outlined their reasons for standing:

“We want to stand to protest against problems workers are facing in Oxford. Low pay and high housing costs make life impossible for us. 45,000 commute into Oxford every day because housing in the city is unaffordable. A two bedroom house here costs up to £300,000! Despite Labour running the council, no social housing was built in 2013.

“As a result, rents are unaffordable. Reports of tenants forced to pay £800 a month for a room in a shared house are not uncommon! It is estimated there is a need for 30,000 new homes in the city.

“This year’s Labour council budget was titled ‘a fair future for Oxford’. It combined a 1.9% increase in council tax, an average council rent increase of over 5% and £5.4 million cuts! Is it any wonder there is such hatred for politicians? A recent council by-election here saw an 8% turnout!

“We have had a very positive response to our leaflets, petitions and stalls at the local shops. The demand for better pay and affordable housing chimes with many. It is the first time TUSC has stood in Oxford, but it gives us great encouragement for the potential to build support.”


Public Meeting

Monday 24 November at 5.30pm

Bullnose Morris Pub, Watlington Road, Cowley OX4 6SS


The Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition (TUSC) is an electoral alliance that stands candidates against all cuts and privatisation.

It involves the RMT transport workers’ union, leading members of other trade unions including the PCS, NUT and POA, the Socialist Party and other socialist and anti-cuts groups and individuals.