Crime & Safety
Councillor slams six-minute debate on Oxford Mini Plant jobs
Oxford City Council spent just over five minutes debating a successful motion entitled ‘Support for Mini Plant Oxford’, which Dr Amir Latif said wasn’t enough time for the issue.
Proposed by Linda Smith, the motion at the full council meeting on Monday, March 23, came after it was claimed a number of jobs had been lost at the Cowley factory over electric cars.
The previous Conservative government committed to phasing out the sale of petrol and diesel new cars in the UK by 2030.
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It left manufacturers such as BMW, which owns Mini, looking at expanding their electric vehicle offering.
However, no electric cars are being made in Cowley right now, and no specific date has been given when electric vehicle production will start at the plant.
Ms Smith has described the automotive sector as being in the midst of a “low-volume crisis” saying it would “not be an exaggeration to say that the Mini Plant Oxford has been (and continues to be) one of the worst hit”.
The motion at the meeting called on the council to meet with Unite the Union at the factory to hear their concerns and to engage with BMW on the UK’s transition to electric vehicles.
However, there was only limited time to debate the proposals with the majority of the hour allotted to motions on notice given to the funding for Oxpens Bridge and on people imprisoned for Palestine Action activity.
The council has clarified that those motions were left over from the previous meeting, which would have happened to the one on the Mini Plant, if it had not gone ahead when it might have been discussed for longer.
Instead it was the last item before the meeting’s end with councillors appearing to speak hurriedly on it.
Dr Latif tried to end the meeting before the Mini factory motion could be debated calling it a “big thing for Oxford”.
He said: “I thought it was a bit disrespectful that the Labour Party tried to push it through in six minutes.”
The Oxford Independent Group councillor added: “They wanted to push it through so they could put it on their election material; families deserve better than that really.”
Ms Smith said it was “disappointing not to have more time”.
In the speech she planned, but didn’t get to deliver, she would have highlighted how securing production of a new electric Mini at Cowley remains critical.
The Labour politician added: “I’m glad some time was made and that it received widespread approval across the chamber.”
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Her party colleague Lubna Arshad, whose ward includes the plant, said she was proud to support the motion.
She added: “This is about standing up for our workforce and our future.”
David Henwood, leader of the Oxford Independent Alliance Group, said he was pleased they had the opportunity to vote and “represent the workers I’ve grown up with”.
He added: “I would have liked the motion to have gone further, to secure and protect jobs, homes and our future.”
Government departments are reminding claimants to check their payment dates so they’re not caught off guard by early deposits over long weekends.
Child Benefit is normally paid on Mondays and Tuesdays, so anyone due a payment on Easter Monday should get it early.
“We always move payments forward when a bank holiday falls on the usual day, so people get their money in time,” a DWP spokesperson said.
Easter 2026: April payments moved forward
For many households, Easter will bring an early arrival of money.
Payments due April 6 2026 (including pensions, Universal Credit, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Child Benefit, and other DWP support) will instead arrive on April 2 2026.
HMRC and DWP explain that bank holidays mean banks are closed, so payments are brought forward to ensure claimants still have access to funds.
May and spring bank holidays
Other early payments this spring include:
- 4 May → 1 May (early May bank holiday)
- 25 May → 22 May (spring bank holiday)
This affects pensioners, Universal Credit recipients, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Child Benefit, and other regular payments.
Summer and autumn changes
Later in 2026, further adjustments apply depending on location:
- 3 August → 4 August (Scotland only)
- 4 August → 5 August (Scotland only)
- 31 August → 28 August (all UK)
- 28 December → 24 December
- 29 December → 30 December (Northern Ireland only)
Regional public holidays in Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee) and Northern Ireland can also affect payment timing.
Why DWP payments change
The DWP and HMRC adjust schedules to ensure that:
- Claimants receive money before the bank closes
- There is no gap in essential support
- Payments arrive predictably despite long weekends
However, claimants should remember that after early payments, the next payment will follow the normal schedule, which may create a slightly longer gap between instalments.
Recommended reading:
How to check your payment
- Look at your bank statement – payments normally appear with references like “DWP Pension” or “HMRC Child Benefit”
- For those on Universal Credit, check the online account for exact payment dates
- If a payment seems late, check with your bank first, then contact the DWP or HMRC if necessary
“Knowing when payments will arrive helps households manage their budgets, especially around busy bank holiday weekends,” a DWP spokesperson said.
The 65-year-old former Top Gear and Grand Tour host is to guest star as the auctioneer at his local lido in Chipping Norton.
Mr Clarkson, a resident of Chadlington on his 1,000-acre farm Diddly Squat, has been a regular at Chipping Norton Lido for some years.
Last year, he helped raise £15,500 for the community-run swimming pool and the year prior it was £13,500 with Clarkson’s Farm co-star Kaleb Cooper’s promise of a personal tractor lesson in Mr Clarkson’s Lamborghini tractor the highest ticket of the night.
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The latest auction is to happen on Friday, May 8 at Chipping Norton Town Hall.
A spokesman for the auction said: “Catch him while you can – Jeremy Clarkson is returning for one last outing as auctioneer raising vital funds for The Lido.
“Our Auction of Promises will take place on Friday 8 May in Chipping Norton Town Hall and features a host of promises ranging from a clutch of Scotch eggs to the chance to see Jack Savoretti in concert and meet him backstage.
“Tickets are on sale now for what is always a highly entertaining night in a very good cause.”
Among previous items for sale was a conation from Blur bassist-turned-cheesemaker Alex James, who lives in nearby Kingham.
He donated a Blue Monday Cheese plus tickets to his food and music event The Big Feastival.
James Alder and Brendon Shamu were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, March 27.
Alder, 21, of Limborough Road, Wantage, and Shamu, 27, of Field Gardens, Steventon, near Abingdon, were both charged with drug dealing offences in Abingdon between October 1 last year and January 23 this year.
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Both men pleaded guilty to being concerned in the supply of class A drugs, namely crack cocaine and heroin.
Shamu also pleaded guilty to being in possession of criminal property, namely £8,795 in cash.
The court heard they were involved with a county drugs line called the Dior Line.
Shamu was jailed for a total of 49 months and Alder for three years.
Orders were made for the forfeiture and destruction of the drugs, paraphernalia, phones and cash.
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