Crime & Safety
UK at ‘grave risk’ as Trump turns up heat on Iran, Bicester MP warns
The Liberal Democrat spokesman for forreign affairs has written to prime minister Sir Keir Starmer urging him to block Donald Trump from using UK air bases.
The American president, at the time of publication, has set a deadline of 8pm EST (1am BST time) for Iran to open up the Strait of Hurmuz.
If not, Mr Trump has threatened to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Age” and said the county will be “living in Hell”.
Mr Miller said in a letter signed by leader Sir Ed Davey that the USA’s threats if carried out would “be a clear breach of international law”.
Bicester and Woodstock’s new MP Calum Miller (Image: Calum Miller)
He said: “The war in the Middle East was launched by Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump on 28 February. Their actions were unilateral and illegal.
“Iran’s retaliation was swift and reckless, also illegally targeting countries that had not been party to the initial attack.”
“Liberal Democrats supported your decisions not to allow UK bases to be used by the US in the initial attacks and to limit UK involvement to that required to defend our citizens, interests and allies in the face of illegal actions against them by Iran.”
READ MORE: Wanted man found after alleged rape of 13-year-old girl
He added “A failure to instil restraint in the actions of combatants and to aver that there are enemy combatants (or civilians) who “deserve no mercy” also contravenes the First and Third Geneva Conventions.
“President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth stand at the pinnace of the US Chain of Command. We must take their remarks seriously.
“They have given us warning that they intend to give instructions that will breach international law.”
Mr Miller called on Sir Keir to “withdraw the access granted to US planes to use UK bases and to make a statement on how we will continue to work with our other allies” going forward.
Downing Street again said the UK’s focus was on “de-escalation” and a “negotiated settlement” for the region, but Mr Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric and the US-Israeli bombing campaign continued.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (PA) (Image: PA)
With the countdown on 24 hours, Mr Trump said on social media: “A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.
“I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
The UK has granted permission for the US to use British military bases to carry out limited defensive operations, only targeting Iran’s missile sites and facilities being used to target shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil and gas route.
Crime & Safety
Tommy Robinson ‘not welcome in Oxford’ after ‘inciting riot’
Oxford Stand Up To Racism has accused Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, of inciting the ‘awful violent scenes’ in Southampton on Tuesday night (June 2).
The city where 18-year-old Henry Nowak died and where his killer, Vickrum Digwa, lived became a scene of destruction after hundreds descended to smash car windows, hurl bricks and cause eleven officers and a police dog to be injured.
READ MORE: New date set for Tommy Robinson appearance in Oxford
Following the disorder, the chief of Hampshire police said those involved were ‘determined to spark fear and division’.
Screen grab taken from a video of police and protestors clashing in Southampton during a protest following the death of Henry Nowak. (Image: Jamie Lashmar/PA Wire)
Yaxley-Lennon, who has been jailed multiple times for a variety of offences including when he was imprisoned in October 2024 for contempt of caught, addressed the crowd at the riot.
He said: “I heard someone say this wasn’t about race, this is about race.
“A white boy who done nothing was handcuffed, a murderer in possession of a knife who stabbed someone five times isn’t.”
Oxford Stand Up to Racism is now renewing its call for the Oxford Union to withdraw its invitation for the ‘riot agitator’ to speak on June 17 on the subject of Islam.
He was originally due to speak at the historic debating society on Thursday, May 28 before his appearance was postponed over security concerns and after massive backlash.
A previous Stand Up to Racism protest in Oxford (Image: Newsquest)
READ MORE: Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
Ian McKendrick, a member of the anti-racism group, said: “Despite Henry Nowak’s family clearly requesting that his death should not be used to promote further hatred, Robinson was at the centre of protests in Southampton last night and clearly inciting violence.
“Giving him a televised platform at the Oxford Union legitimises hate and violence, and gives him the opportunity to incite violence to an audience of millions.
“It does not promote free speech – instead, it promotes fear and intimidation among minoritised communities.
“Already we have seen Oxford fascists alongside Robinson in Southampton and now mobilising to bring more hate onto Oxford’s streets.”
Tommy Robinson with protesters outside Southampton police station (Image: Gareth Fuller/PA)
Members of Raise the Colours: Oxfordshire were called to attend the Southampton protest on Tuesday night, with the leader of the group posting on Facebook to ask followers to join the ‘justice for Henry Nowak’ protest.
Mr McKendrick added: “There is a concerted effort by far right leaders and fascist groups to incite outrage and bring people on to the streets to riot.
READ MORE: Traffic chaos in Witney amid report of ‘major incident’
“We risk an explosion of violence similar to what we saw around the Southport murders across the UK.
“We’re calling on Oxford to say a clear ‘no’ to this hate and division by protesting against Yaxley-Lennon’s appearance at the Oxford Union.”
Faith and civic leaders of Oxford already wrote to the Oxford Union asking it to rescind the controversial figure’s invitation, and hundreds have signed an open letter calling for the same.
Crime & Safety
Witney traffic chaos amid report of 'major incident' at junction
A reported incident at a junction in Witney is causing traffic chaos in the town, with drivers coming off the A40 and elsewhere stuck in long queues.
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Crime & Safety
Major emergency response in Oxford as paramedics on scene
An incident occurred in St Aldate’s, outside the entrance to Christ Church Meadows, at about 4pm on Tuesday, June 2.
At least three ambulances were responding to what appeared to be a medical emergency on the pavement.
READ MORE: Oxfordshire footbridge over A-road a collapse risk for years
An individual was scene on a stretcher being cared for by paramedics.
At least three ambulances responded to what appeared to be a medical emergency in St Aldate’s, Oxford (Image: Contributed)
An eyewitness said the incident occurred opposite the Alice Shop, and the medical teams ‘evacuated’ the person.
Apart from the pavement briefly being blocked while the first responders dealt with the emergency, it did not appear to affect traffic or block the road in busy St Aldate’s.
South Central Ambulance Service has been contacted for comment.
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