Oxford News
MP calls for UK to rejoin EU on anniversary of Brexit vote
Oxford West and Abingdon MP Layla Moran urged the Government to take steps to rejoin the EU as it would be in “Britain’s best interests”.
She made the call on the 10th anniversary of the referendum, which divided the country and resulted in Britain leaving the EU.
A debate over the future of the UK-EU relationship has reignited in recent weeks after the outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made closer ties with Brussels a key pillar of his “reset” after Labour’s electoral drubbing in May.
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Andy Burnham, the man who many see as a Prime Minister-in-waiting after his Makerfield by-election win and Sir Keir’s resignation as party leader, has pledged not to “re-run” old Brexit arguments.
He has sought to play down the prospect of reversing the 2016 referendum but has said he would like to see the UK back in the EU within his lifetime.
Ms Moran, who spoke at the Rejoin rally on Saturday, said: ““Ten years on from the disastrous vote to leave the European Union, we are now in a place where Britain has greater inequality, is less secure and more divided.
“We would have a stronger economy and better defence if we returned to the EU.
“That is why it is in Britain’s best interests to be back in the heart of Europe.”
Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds said Britain needed to work “more closely” with the EU.
She added: “It’s critical for the UK’s economic security that we work far more closely with the EU.
“The first step must be a successful EU Summit in the Autumn. I will be pushing for deals on youth mobility, agriculture and food and emissions trading – and to go further both on economic security (including relating to automotive and tech) and defence and countering foreign interference as well”.
Pensioner David Shorter, who lives in Botley Road, Oxford, is a long-term supporter of Brexit and often decks out his home with England flags, and banners backing Brexit.
Sitting outside his home on the anniversary, he said: “We are an island and should not be part of the European Union.
“If they try to reverse Brexit it will cause major upset. We should bring back coal mining, and another big asset is North Sea oil. We should dig and drill.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Westminster had repeatedly failed to listen to people who had asked “to take control of our borders, take control of our laws, and deliver the growth they so desperately needed”.
He said: “I’ve always said that Brexit is a necessary step towards saving the country. But on its own, it’s nowhere near sufficient. It needs a government that will deliver on the freedom it gave us to drag our heads back above the water. It needs a government that will listen.
“The anger and frustration felt by the British people, the anger and distrust in the Westminster class, is a result of the utter failure of that same political class to pay attention to what it was told.
“To take control of our borders, take control of our laws, and deliver the growth they so desperately needed. These desires were ignored. And so was the optimism of the 2016 vote.”
Thames Valley Police has said it is appealing to anyone who was on Hagbourne Road at 5.20am on Monday, June 15.
In an alleyway off the Didcot street and opposite Bridge Close a man reportedly indecently exposed himself to a man in his forties.
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Police confirmed the victim did not sustain any injuries and that no arrests have been made at this time, although an investigation is ongoing.
The offender is described as black, approximately 5ft 8ins tall, of slim build, with short cropped black hair.
He was wearing a grey and black chequered jacket and blue jeans.
Investigating officer PC Ryan Scott said: “We are appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and may have seen this individual, or who may have CCTV, dash-cam or doorbell footage, to please come forward.”
If you have any information that could assist the investigation, Thames Valley Police have asked that you contact them online while quoting reference number 43260298812.
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Alternatively, you can report information by calling 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A spokesperson for the police added: “All reports of exposure offences are dealt with seriously and robustly by police.
“If you witness an indecent exposure, you should call us immediately on 999.”
Witney Town Council has announced that the Armed Forces event at The Leys Recreation Ground on Saturday, June 27, will not go ahead as planned.
The council said that this was because temperatures are “exceptionally high”, with the Met Office predicting they will reach 37°C in Witney.
They added that they “fully support this precautionary approach”.
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A spokesperson for Witney Town Council said: “Unfortunately, due to the continuing hot weather and following guidance from their respective headquarters, the Army Cadets and Air Cadets have been stood down and will no longer be running their Armed Forces Day event at the Leys on Saturday 27th June.
“With temperatures remaining exceptionally high, the decision has been made to minimise the risks associated with prolonged outdoor activity, and we fully support this precautionary approach.
“We would like to thank both organisations for their enthusiasm and commitment to supporting the event.
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“While we know this will be disappointing for many visitors, the health, wellbeing and safety of the cadets and their volunteers is of the utmost importance and must come first.
“They have already been in touch to express their disappointment and have said they hope to be offered the chance to return and run the event next year.
“We look forward to seeing our hardworking cadets before then at other events throughout the year and thank everyone for their understanding.”
The 66-year-old, who owns Diddly Squat Farm near Chipping Norton and runs The Farmer’s Dog pub off the A40 in West Oxfordshire.
England are back in action tonight (Tuesday, June 23) at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, taking on Ghana in Boston in their second group game, with kick-off at 9pm UK time.
Thomas Tuchel’s side began their campaign with a confident victory over Croatia in their opening match, settling early nerves and putting them in a strong position to reach the knock-out stages.
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The tournament, jointly hosted across cities in the US, has seen England based on the East Coast, where interest from ex-pats and travelling fans has been high as Tuchel bids to end the country’s long wait for another World Cup title.
Mr Clarkson has travelled over to Boston to watch the England game live tonight and has now given his thoughts on Tuchel, making a bold claim about the German coach.
Appearing on The Sun website’s exclusive football show from the US, Proper Football Daily, he said: “I loved the football England played against Croatia.
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“And I understand his half-time talk was very motivational and very clever as well. I love Tuchel. I really love him. Do I wish he was English? Yes. But he isn’t, so we’ve got the best man to win it for us.
“Tuchel makes lots of changes to shock teams. I seem to remember that from Chelsea. You see how he plays one game and think, ‘OK, that’s how he’s going to play it’.
“And then the next time he doesn’t play the same type of way. It’s genius.”
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