Oxford leadership undecided week after local elections

No overall majority was won at the authority when the city went to the polls across 24 wards on May 7, with half of the council’s seats up for grabs.

The makeup of the next Oxford administration is uncertain, as “conversations” to decide how the authority will be run are set to continue into the weekend.

Labour, which previously ran a minority administration with 21 seats, remains the council’s largest party with 20 seats.

The party lost two seats and made one gain.

One of the councillors who lost his seat was Alex Hollingsworth, a former city council leader, who is also the partner of de facto leader Susan Brown.

The ongoing discussions could end with Labour continuing to run the council as a minority or in an alliance, potentially with the Greens, who were celebrating “historic” gains.

The Green Party received the highest percentage of votes at the Oxford elections and came away with 13 seats, having gained four, its highest number ever on the council.

The Lib Dems held their seats, but made no gains at the election and had been in talks with the Greens about working together to run the council.

These talks have since fallen through.

Cllr Chris Jarvis, who was the Green group leader heading into the elections and is now its deputy, ruled out working with the Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA), over differing opinions on issues such as transport.

Previously, IOA leader Cllr David Henwood said the party’s door “remains open” to the Greens or Labour.

He stated: “IOA leader, Cllr David Henwood, said: “The Greens have made it clear that they will not work with the IOA.

“However, our door remains open, as we all have a duty to deliver the services required by law to the people of Oxford.”

Negotiations remain ongoing.

The timetable for local government reorganisation currently suggests that, following a decision on whether Oxfordshire will have one, two or three authorities set to be unveiled in July this year, “shadow authority” elections will be held in 2027.

This would be in place ahead of the new authority or authorities being set up by April 2028.

This means whoever takes control of the council may have less than a year in charge.

Meanwhile, the impact of these local elections has been playing out on a national stage with a leadership crisis for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, following major losses for the Labour Party across the UK.