You correctly describe the Labour policies reported in the Oxford Mail (May 26) as the pledges of (outgoing) Labour county councillors.
Most of these policies have in fact been endorsed by the Oxfordshire Labour Party as its election manifesto.
However, one item, the proposal to impose parking charges at the park & ride sites, has not been agreed by the party, and should not have been published as an election commitment.
Taken together with the proposal to scrap residents’ parking charges in Oxford (but not outside the city), this policy appears designed to benefit city residents at the expense of other communities.
It is not surprising existing Labour councillors have developed such policies. However, while those policies have widespread support within Oxford, there is little sympathy for them elsewhere in Oxfordshire.
You report that the policies would be put into effect if Labour took control of County Hall at the coming election.
However, in order for Labour to take such control, it is a mathematical necessity that more Labour councillors would need to be elected beyond the city boundary than within it.
Were that situation to occur, it is probable that elements of existing policy that seek to benefit the city at the expense of communities elsewhere would be ditched.
Chris Robins, Labour candidate, Kidlington and Yarnton
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