Oxford News
Former minister Oxfordshire MP refuses to back Starmer
Anneliese Dodds MP has refused to comment on whether she is standing by the Prime Minister amid reports that over 80 of Labour’s MPs have demanded his departure.
Asked if she will back Sir Keir to continue his premiership at this time, call for his resignation or a timetable for departure, she chose not to share a statement at this time.
This comes after the resignation of three ministers from the government, Alex Davies-Jones, Jess Phillips and Miatta Fahnbulleh.
Stepping down as victims minister, Alex Davies-Jones, criticised Sir Keir for a lack of “bold, radical action” as she urged him to quit.
Ms Dodds is also a former minister, having resigned as international development minister and minister for women and equalities in February 2025, in protest of aid cuts.
Resignations from the government have led to a promotion for another Oxfordshire MP, Sean Woodcock.
The Banbury MP has been made a parliamentary private secretary (PPS), after Joe Morris, a parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and Tom Rutland, a PPS to Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, Cabinet Office aide Naushabah Khan and Melanie Ward, a PPS to Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, all quit on Monday evening, May 11.
Department for Work and Pensions aide Gordon McKee and Ms Mahmood’s PPS Sally Jameson also left their posts, having expressed a loss of confidence in the Prime Minister.
Asked about his appointment and whether he would back Sir Keir to continue in his premiership, he said: “I am proud to have been asked to serve.
“It is a real honour both for me and the people of Banbury who put their faith in me at the 2024 general election.
“I will take the issues that are important to Banbury to the heart of government and ensure that they remain my focus.”
He has not explicitly lent his support to the Prime Minister in this statement.
The MP had also been asked to confirm if he is backing Sir Keir, calling for his resignation or a timetable for departure.
The Prime Minister is understood to have defied calls for him to vacate Downing Street, telling his Cabinet the country “expects us to get on with governing” and “that is what I am doing”.
A statement understood to have been signed by more than 100 Labour MPs backing Sir Keir Starmer urges colleagues to start “working together”.
Housing minister Matthew Pennycook warned against a “descent into chaos” by triggering a formal challenge.
Charlie Matthews appeared at Oxford Crown Court on August 27.
The 25-year-old is charged with two counts of rape.
The allegations are said to have taken place in Oxford in April and October 2021.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire data centres call to ‘pause’ expansion
The complainant for both counts is the same woman.
Matthews, of Langney Road, Eastbourne, pleaded not guilty to both counts.
A trial date, with a time estimate of four to five days, was set for August 21, 2028.
Judge Ian Pringle KC said that this is some seven years after the offences are alleged to have taken place.
The judge said: “Unfortunately, that’s the situation.”
Matthews was released on bail, with the condition not to contact the complainant.
Islandfarm Viscount is a 13-year-old gelding from Island Farm Donkey Sanctuary in Brightwell-cum-Sotwell near Wallingford.
He took the top title at the 2026 Donkey Breed Society National Championship Show, held on August 22 at Pickering Grange Equestrian Centre in Coalville.
He is the offspring of East Lodge Bryony, a donkey left to the sanctuary by the late Alex and Sue Horn.
Mr Horn was a respected figure in donkey showing and won numerous awards during his lifetime.
Viscount has built an impressive record of his own, with championship wins at the Mid Somerset Show and the New Forest and Hampshire Show.
He was named Reserve Champion at the Ellingham and Ringwood Show, placing just behind stablemate Perehill Magical Moments.
Both donkeys qualified for the national finals, where Viscount claimed the Senior Gelding Class and went on to be named British Champion Gelding for the fifth year in a row.
He then competed against other class winners and took home the Supreme Champion title and trophy.
Perehill Magical Moments earned her place at the finals after wins at the Heckinton Show and Ellingham and Ringwood.
At the national event, she won the Senior Mare class and was named Reserve Mare Champion.
There are severe delays on the A34 between Oxford and Junction 9 for Bicester due to a traffic incident this afternoon on the Bank Holiday Monday.
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