Crime & Safety
‘Oxfordshire deserves better’ amid leadership ‘farce’
The meeting was held to elect a new leader, a week after an annual meeting where the 2026/27 cabinet was announced only to be thrown into flux again hours later by the resignation of Liz Leffman.
New Liberal Democrat group leader, Tim Bearder, has now been elected as council boss, but before that, councillors from across the political spectrum slammed the administration for the uncertain position the authority had been left in amid multiple cabinet reshuffles.
Ms Leffman served a five-year term as leader, guiding the authority since May 2021 in a Liberal Democrats, Greens and Labour Party coalition called the ‘Oxfordshire Fair Deal Alliance’.
She continued into majority administration following the 2025 election, and most recently in a minority following resignations in recent weeks.
Tributes have been paid to her time in post, but at Wednesday morning’s meeting, councillors shared their disappointment about the circumstances surrounding her resignation, with several calling for an apology.
Liz Brighouse (Labour group leader) said she had “never, ever, ever experienced anything like this before” in her 30 years as a councillor.
She said the timing of the resignation left council officers in a “totally untenable position” and the authority in a “shambles”.
Ms Brighouse added: “I find it absolutely despicable that democracy has been treated in the way it has been treated here.”
She called the situation a “farce”, which prompted laughter from the newly appointed transport boss, Gareth Epps (Lib Dem).
Liam Walker (Conservative group leader) said: “This situation demonstrates a complete disregard to fellow councillors for council tax payers and for Oxfordshire County Council itself.
“So today we gather not because of the necessity for the county but because of the internal instability and political mismanagement of the Liberal Democrats.”
He added: “They’re dropping like flies.”
Emma Garnett (Green) wants a report to find out how the situation came about.
She thanked Ms Leffman for her leadership but criticised the short notice of the meeting, saying “one of our colleagues is literally undergoing cancer treatment and has had to come in from Banbury to have a democratic say in this”.
Ms Leffman stated: “It is my choice, entirely my choice to stand down.”
She said she had decided “some time ago” as she will not be standing in the 2027 elections.
Ms Leffman also took a swipe at councillors criticising the timetable of her departure, saying: “It was quite entertaining to hear both the Conservatives and Labour criticising us for having to manage our leadership”.
Reflecting on her time as leader, she said: “I have not only had an extremely exciting five years, learning much more than I ever imagined I would know about this county, but also seen some quite remarkable changes since we started as an administration in 2021.”
Thames Valley Police has said they are concerned for the welfare of Jessica, who was last seen at 4pm on Tuesday, May 26, at Bicester Food and Wine.
The force believes she is travelling to Banbury town centre.
READ MORE: Missing 16-year-old boy sparks urgent appeal from Oxfordshire police
A spokesperson for the Cherwell unit said: “Have you seen Jessica?
“She was last seen in Bicester food and wine around 4pm today. We believe she has travelled to Banbury Town centre.
“She frequents Garth Park and other parks in the Bicester area, but also the library.
“We are concerned for her welfare. If you see her, please call us on 999 quoting reference 1327 of today’s date.”
Thames Valley Police has warned dog owners to “never” leave their pet in a hot vehicle, even if for a short time.
The force released the advice today (Tuesday, May 26) after a dog was removed from a car because of the “dangerously high temperature”.
READ MORE: Oxford highs of 33°C amid thunderstorm alerts and supermarket fridge chaos
It was kept in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned.
A spokesperson for the South Oxon and Vale of White Horse team said: “We are urging the public to never leave dogs in hot cars—even for a short time.
“Recently, PC Hackett attended a report of a dog left in a vehicle.
“Despite the windows being slightly open and a bowl of water inside, the temperature was still dangerously high.
“The dog had to be removed and kept safe in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned, where advice was given.
“Cars heat up rapidly, even on mild days. Dogs cannot regulate their body temperature effectively and can quickly suffer or die.
READ MORE: Police statement as missing boy, 16, last seen at Didcot railway station found
“Leaving a dog in a hot car may constitute an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
“If you see a dog in distress call 999 in an emergency otherwise report via 101.
“Remember: If you wouldn’t sit in the car, don’t leave your dog in it.”
The UK has recorded its hottest ever May temperature with provisional temperatures reaching 35°C in London and 33°C in Oxford on Tuesday, May 26.
This comes as temperatures in Oxfordshire hit record heights on Monday, May 25, with 33.6°C measured in Benson, near Wallingford.
READ MORE: Fire crews race to Morrisons supermarket in Oxfordshire village
Meanwhile a yellow thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Tuesday evening with the possibility of isolated storms hitting large swathes of the country including Oxford.
The Met Office said many areas will stay hot and sunny but there is potential for as much as 30mm of rainfall in the space of an hour in some parts.
The warning is in place between 3pm and 10pm today (Tuesday, May 26).
The heat has caused some disruption in Oxfordshire with reports of freezers and fridges within supermarkets breaking down.
Multiple customers said they left the Aldi in Broadway, Didcot, without any chilled food due to broken cooling systems in the shop.
Several other supermarkets in the county are showing empty shelves, as products are returned to the warehouse to prevent spoiling them while fridges and freezers are out of action.
One such store is the Waitrose in Bell Street, Henley, where cooled shelves have been cleared and a notice put up in the place of products like dairy and meat.
The notice said: “Due to the extreme temperatures and a breakdown of our main refrigeration units we have, unfortunately, had to send our chilled and frozen products back to our warehouse to prevent the stock being destroyed.”
Meanwhile, a section of the Oxfordshire police called on the public to ensure dogs are not left in hot cars after one was found left in a vehicle with the temperature “dangerously high”.
The South Oxon and Vale of White Horse team said: “We are urging the public to never leave dogs in hot cars—even for a short time.
“Recently, PC Hackett attended a report of a dog left in a vehicle.
“Despite the windows being slightly open and a bowl of water inside, the temperature was still dangerously high.
READ MORE: Drugs, weapons and cash seized as man arrested in Oxford police raid
“The dog had to be removed and kept safe in an air-conditioned police vehicle until the owner returned, where advice was given.”
The Met Office said that the minimum temperature tonight is likely to be 15°C with Wednesday set to be “mainly dry and sunny again”.
A spokesperson said: “Fresher conditions expected near eastern coasts with stronger onshore breezes. Maximum temperature 29 °C.”
Longer term it is expected to stay warm for the remainder of the week albeit with a slight temperature dip.
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