SPEECHES at a “special” council meeting took a humorous turn as councillors from across the political divide shared a stage.

Oxford City Council met on Tuesday to confer the Freedom of the City on local charity Oxfam.

Labour’s Antonia Bance, right, took to the stage, in robes worn by councillors at such civic functions, followed by Lib Dem John Goddard and Green councillor Craig Simmons, to demonstrate cross-party support.

Taking to the stage after Ms Bance, Mr Goddard couldn’t help having a party-political dig, claiming the audience was witnessing “a different Antonia” from the one seen at normal meetings (at which she, much like Mr Goddard, rarely keeps her feelings to herself). He then dubbed her a “Special Antonia”, prompting laughs from across the chamber.

Although she was laughing on the outside, The Insider wonders how Ms Bance really felt about being called “special” by Oxford’s very own godfather of Liberal politics.

 

 

A TOUCH of media training might be in order for officers at Oxford City Council.

A licensing official accidentally let slip some details of a private chat between him and a senior police figure in front of an Oxford Mail reporter.

He told councillors, without realising the press was there, the officer in question had concerns that money raised by the council under a new proposed “late-night levy” might not end up paying for more bobbies on the beat.

But to make matters worse, he then asked for his comments to be “scrubbed” from the record, and then tried to kick the reporter out later when more sensitive information came up.

Luckily media-friendly councillor Colin Cook, above, was in the house, ready to remind him of the meaning of a “public meeting”.

 

 

POLITICAL disagreement has taken an unusual form after comments were made by a community leader in the Vale of White Horse.

The councillor, who shall remain nameless, expressed her dislike of Wantage MP Ed Vaizey, right, when speaking to a reporter.

She said: “I’ve got a son his age, and I’d love to put him over my knee.”

Maybe this traditional method of punishing naughty children should be extended to our constituency MPs?