This is an editorial opinion piece which was recently published in The Oxford Times, sister paper of the Oxford Mail.

It's quite rare that parties across the political spectrum agree on anything. 

It's a common occurrence in city council meetings up and down the country that motions are proposed by opposition parties, with no chance of ever being passed without a rebellion from the controlling group. 

There are a couple of councils in Hampshire that spring to mind. Take Eastleigh Borough Council for example. The Lib Dems have 35 out of the 39 seats on that council, meaning it would almost be pointless for the one Conservative or three independents to propose a motion. 

That's what makes Oxford City Council so interesting. A motion from a member of the opposition has a very good chance of being passed with Labour having just 20 seats. 

A motion with the support of the Labour group then is almost guaranteed success. And that's what we report on our front page this week. A cross-party motion with the almost complete full backing on the council to condemn the home secretary's plans to reopen Campsfield House in Kidlington.

The controversial centre has a chequered history. 

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In 2018, the Conservative government announced its decision to permanently close Campsfield House as part of its new policy to reduce the UK’s detention estate by half.

This decision followed two major reviews into migrant detention conducted by Sir Stephen Shaw, in 2016 and 2018, which recommended that government resources would be better directed to speeding up the Home Office’s rate of asylum application processing.

The recommendations were fully accepted by the government and Campsfield House was closed in early 2019.

It followed years of problems, including riots, escapes and complaints about conditions.

In June 2022, the Conservative government reversed its detention closure policy.

During the general election campaign, the Labour Party promised a complete departure from the Conservative approach, and cancelled the Rwanda scheme.

The full council meeting heard from Mohammed Azad, of the Real Independents group, who spoke from first hand experience of having worked at the centre. He said: “I am speaking from personal experience of working in Campsfield House for four years. The conditions the centre were kept in was bad, but the metal health condition of the detainees was horrendous. There was daily violence which went unreported.

"While I was working there it was set on fire and there were fights there every day. Working there was very difficult. I urge this council to keep Campsfield House closed and make sure it never opens again.”

Amidst a backdrop of frequent opposition, it was refreshing to see the council united behind this.