Former Home Secretary backs Veronica's campaign to become MP for Bicester, Kidlington and Woodstock
- Veronica
- Jun 23, 2024
- 2 min read
A former cabinet minister said he believes a win is possible for Labour in the Bicester and Woodstock constituency.
Jack Straw, former cabinet minister in the Labour government from 1997 until 2010, has said he believes Labour candidate Veronica Oakeshott can win the new constituency, citing similarities with seats that became Labour in 1997.
Jack served in the cabinet continuously from 1997-2010, including in two of the traditional Great Offices of State as both Home and Foreign Secretary under the governments of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
A long-term west Oxfordshire resident, Jack was born in Essex.
Speaking at a Labour event in Burford today he said:
“In 1997, we never believed we had a chance in my home county of Essex."
Until then the entire county of Essex was represented by Conservative MPs.
We watched the votes come in. Braintree, then Harwich as it was, and then Castle Point.
They’d all been Conservative for decades, but we won.
So I know that despite similar long-held Tory heritage, in Bicester & Woodstock and west Oxfordshire more widely, Labour can do exactly the same - win.”
Veronica is cautious about comparing now to the 1997 election too closely.
“We cannot assume that Labour will win nationally, or here.
"Back then turnout was high in Essex - over 70 per cent in all three of those one of two.
"Everyone who wants change must turn out and vote Labour on July 4.”
"However there are similarities between Jack's experience in Essex and experiences in Bicester, Kidlington and Woodstock too.
"More people are struggling.
"They can feel their standard of living has gone down.
"They can’t get doctors appointments. Their kids' schools are understaffed - some with no qualified maths teachers.”
You can read the full article in the Oxford Mail:
Tactical voting in Bicester and Woodstock?
We know many people are tactical voting in the Bicester and Woodstock constituency.
Across Kidlington, Eynsham, Heyford, Bicester and Woodstock, the best way to tactical vote and get the Tories out is to vote Labour. Voting for the Lib Dems or any other party is a risk, as new polls such as this one from Ipsos make clear.
And as well as tactical voting for whoever will beat the Tories, Labour is the only party with a bold, ambitious plan to change Britain.
And Veronica Oakeshott has the track record and the energy to actually deliver that change.