Mike Giles 🔸

Highlighted the importance of infrastructure such as GP surgeries going alongside new housing, during SODC Cabinet yesterday @LibDems @LibDemsOxon See here (50:27 - 52:19) - m.youtube.com/watch?v=GBXrFh…

Great news for Hungarians 🇭🇺 and also should lead to €90bn EU loan being unlocked for Ukraine 🇺🇦

Oxfordshire County Council is developing a transport strategy, inc. Sonning Common & Shiplake. They are consulting on plans, until 16 April - letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/henley-lcwip I’m very keen to see a cycle path between Sonning Common and Emmer Green, and will continue to make this case

Positive result in Oxfordshire. Congrats Caleb Pell and the team!

EXC: Nigel Farage defends Reform-run Kent County Council increasing council tax by 3.99% despite election leaflets last year pledging to “reduce waste and cut your taxes”. Mr Farage told me: “Cutting taxes can be not putting them up as much, I suppose.” @itvmeridian

youtube.com/watch?v=fD7Bl2… (46:40 - 46:57)

Spoke at South Oxf DC Cabinet last night, inc. on Gov’t funding for councils: “Just on the fair funding review…would you describe it as ‘fair’ given it broadly appears to take money from certain areas and broadly give money to areas which Labour controls or wishes to control?”

This review is very welcome, but have major doubts about whether this will actually lead anywhere… Including genuinely liberal voices in the process would be a good start

🚨 WATCH: Ed Davey's New Year message to Britain "2025 hasn’t always been easy, but I'm so proud of everything our Liberal Democrat team has achieved this year. "Our record-breaking success in the local elections in May, beating Labour and the Conservatives for the first time. Our victories in Parliament, from banning puppy smuggling to backing a new Customs Union with the EU. Fighting to end the cost-of-living crisis, protecting our environment, fixing the NHS and social care. "These are our battles, as well as standing up to Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Taking the fight to Nigel Farage, and winning. "And we can win again in 2026, in Scotland, Wales and across England, to stop Trump’s America becoming Farage’s Britain, and change our country for the better. "So from all of us at the Liberal Democrats, I hope you have a happy and hopeful New Year. Let’s make it a good one"

The bit they won't say out loud.

This is a terrible decision…it will lead to an increase in miscarriages of justice. Trial by jury is a basic civil liberty

Outrageous proposals from Trump, advocating Russian negotiating positions and failing to support a democratic ally. This is appeasement of the very worst kind. Europe needs to step up and support Ukraine with whatever they need militarily.

Lib Dems call for 5% VAT cut for pubs and restaurants bbc.in/49fnXhc

Council votes to oppose Government's 'intrusive' digital ID plans ift.tt/sRbqJMT

Thanks to @TheOxfordMail for covering our successful motion against mandatory ID, which comes with a host of privacy, data security and digital inclusion concerns. It’s good news for residents that South Oxfordshire Lib Dems are opposing these intrusive plans. @LibDemsOxon

Great to see this important motion from community champion @timbearder passed by @SouthOxon - oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25570633.… @LibDemsOxon taking action to crackdown on illegal parking by untaxed vehicles

@NoToDigitalID Pleased to confirm @SouthOxon is the first council to oppose the Government’s mandatory ID scheme. Our @LibDems motion passed at yesterday’s council meeting - standing up for civil liberties, digital inclusion & privacy

What is Kier Starmer going to say Digital IDs will fix next? Wrong answers only ⬇️ 🔀

@libertyhq Pleased to confirm @SouthOxon is the first council to oppose the Government’s mandatory ID scheme. Our @LibDems motion passed at yesterday’s council meeting - standing up for civil liberties, digital inclusion & privacy

Government plans to introduce #digitalID, ramp up facial recognition tech, and weaken encryption software are sleepwalking us into a surveillance state. We need your support to fight back. Donate today: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/protect-our-…

@LibDems Pleased to confirm LD-run @SouthOxon has become the first council to oppose the Government’s mandatory ID scheme. Our motion passed at yesterday’s council meeting - standing up for civil liberties, digital inclusion & privacy

People shouldn’t be turned into criminals just because they can’t have a digital ID, or choose not to. We will fight tooth and nail to oppose these plans for a mandatory Digital ID.

@Keir_Starmer Pleased to confirm @SouthOxon has become the first council to oppose the Government’s mandatory ID scheme (as well as banning Chinese surveillance tech) Our @LibDems motion passed at yesterday’s council meeting - standing up for civil liberties, digital inclusion & privacy

Digital ID will bring the UK into the modern age.