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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

As you can see from Caroline Lucas's post etc such a policy would hand votes to the Greens. But that's not the main harm - 🌎🌡️🔥

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Reposted by Cllr Ruth Smith

👻madeline bOoOoOoOodent👻 @oldenoughtosay.com · 17/07/2026

not to come back to this again but i read the statement in full and once again, respectfully, DANG “We are not called to the legal minimum of hospitality. We are called to the radical welcome of the one who sought out the excluded and the overlooked.”

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

He quite possibly has the character, forthrightness and appeal to put the "new right" with its racists and xenophobes and climate change deniers and misogynists back in the shadows, giving people back a moral compass to believe in - society can be repaired by common decency, not fascism.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

But I have always liked him. I think I voted for a woman over him in one of the leadership elections but would have happily voted for him in a less sexist society. For context, the best Labour leader we never had, in my opinion, was Tim Farron. I am hopeful that Andy will not disappoint..

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

He is still at the stage of everyone projecting their policy hopes on to him. I hope to heaven the briefing about new drilling is just testing the water over the weekend (...an end to "briefing" was his 1st pledge). He can't be that carbon illiterate?

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

I watched Andy Burnham's speech in full this morning. He swiftly summarised Starmer's achievements redressing the harm of the previous 14 years in a way Starmer never did - the message could never get through. He does bring hope. He will look for solutions not excuses. labour.org.uk/updates/memb...

labour.org.uk

Andy Burnham elected Leader of the Labour Party – The Labour Party

Andy Burnham, MP for Makerfield, has today (Friday 17 July) been elected Leader of the Labour Party. Burnham received the support of 379 Labour MPs and 23 affiliate organisations. This afternoon, at L...

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

The crazy barriers on a new path behind Witney East visible from the A40 are going to be removed. It's uncycleable with them on. Windrush Bike Project asked me about them at the carnival. Cllr Dan Levy was on the case and has insisted they go. Dunno where the path goes - until it's navigable!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

It doesn't feel direct from South Leigh or High Cogges but it exists. No change to the Oxford commute. The short stretch near the inbound new slip road is nice and wide and makes the old Oxford Hill stretch feel narrow.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

I cycled to the opening of the Shores Green slip roads. Vegetation needs cutting at the corner with Jubilee Way, the cycle path needs sweeping all along in general and after the resurfacing of Oxford Hill and there was a tarmac missing from the cycle crossing (bizarre, as the rest was done).

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

That's my quote, given to OCC. One day I will find out who the excellent Clarion writers are. Is it common knowledge? I haven't heard.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

The project stalled after the Cogges Link Road controversy, and then Cllr Duncan Enright got it over the line as Strategic Transport portfolio holder at OCC, ensuring it was not dependent on the East Witney housing development. Thank you to the current administration for finishing the job.

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Reposted by Cllr Ruth Smith

Oxford Clarion @oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Two new sliproads opened today at Shores Green, Witney, at a cost of £26.8m. They enable Witney traffic to use the A40 from one end of town to the other, bypassing the congested Bridge Street. They had been proposed since 2012 as an alternative to the rejected scheme for a Cogges Link Road.

Local councillors at the opening of the Shores Green slip-roads

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

@robintucker1.bsky.social Thank you for your submission from CoHSAT about Witney High Street today. I love the angle on reclaiming the Market Square from cars. I have seen the pictures from before.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 01/03/2026

We have endured the Botley Road closure for so long. Add that to the list of things like the lock downs that we never anticipated! Here's the technical account of what has been going on, in New Civil Engineer. www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/deliv...

newcivilengineer.com

Delivering the delayed Oxford station bridge replacement before and during the 8-day blockade | New Civil Engineer

Replacement of the bridge over Botley Road in the centre of the city is a key part of the Oxford Station upgrade being delivered by Kier and Network Rail.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

It's business that's broken, not wages. The starting point for thought leaders like the banker needs to be what do people need to earn to be out of poverty? Then advise companies to structure business and pricing around that. I don't have the fix, but I know that exploiting workers is not it!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

Article on T-graph front page where a Bank of England official blames youth unemployment on the national living wage. Prejudicial language from the paper includes "inflation busting" and "excessive" wages, yet the NLW is not even the Real Living Wage. It is still poverty pay. So let's reframe.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 21/11/2025

The Christmas tree is going in at the Buttercross, on a cold and frosty morning. Lights switch-on is Fri 28 Nov.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 20/11/2025

I am at the #TransDayofRemembrance vigil at the Corn Exchange, about to start at 6:30. Remembering lives tragically and avoidably lost. Holding everyone close and trying to keep people whole, seen and upheld. ,🏳️‍⚧️

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

But I cannot get behind any redefinition of seeking asylum in the UK. We need swift and good processes, decent residential welcome centres and onwards housing (build it!) and a system built on dignity not trauma. *Immigration must be discussed and solved separately from asylum.*

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/11/2025

Sometimes the good news just doesn't get past the dispiriting headlines. 🎭 Opportunities in the arts. 🍿👨‍🎤🎸Good thing!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

I am in Derby today, under my own steam, for the @publicissues.bsky.social Joint public Issues Team conference, For Goodness Sake #ForGood25 about social justice and action. I am keen to learn more about the Constituency Action Network jpit.uk/can

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

and questions submitted about Madley Park playing fields, basketball at the outdoor court by Windrush Leisure Centre and tree felling. There are motions about asylum seekers, e-bikes, nature in the planning system and Israel-Gaza. It's an interesting one!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

It's West Oxfordshire District Council today. We are just finishing our preparatory meetings. You can watch the public meeting here westoxon.public-i.tv/core/portal/... I have a motion asking for Work Experience to be promoted better within West Oxfordshire,

westoxon.public-i.tv

Home - West Oxfordshire District Council streaming

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

The Gallopers Service to bless the Feast is earlier this year - today it's at around 12:45pm at the carousel. There will be a procession from the church you can join in or meet on the field. And the fair opens today!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

If I remember rightly, the author was a Didcot head teacher.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

This is an excellent analysis of the "flag" situation. It's a blog post designed for school leaders but explains what is going on in terms we can all understand. And gives some helpful talking points for all of us, whatever our current standpoint. www.thebelongingeffect.co.uk/flags-when-p...

thebelongingeffect.co.uk

Flags: When Patriotism Becomes Politics | Belonging Effect

We have all seen them. Driving up the motorway, crossing a roundabout in town, suddenly there it is: the Union Jack, or the red-and-white St George’s Cross.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 05/09/2025

And I will add: I also know many of the do-ers - those doing the work of caring and supporting but not writing about it. ❤️

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 31/08/2025

The safest place for fossil fuels is in the seabed/ground. They have caused enough harm already. Anyone who wants to extract more of them and burn them has no interest in solving the planet's problem, just in lazy and irresponsible short-termism. 🌍🌎🌏🌡️🙏

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 07/08/2025

Date for your Sept diary - Wed 3rd, 6-8pm, Corn Ex, Witney Bus Users Meeting. This was a huge success last year. Come and feed into the continued improvement of bus services.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

"Pro-immigration counter-protesters approached by the BBC declined to speak." 1) Not necessarily pro-immigration, rather, pro-treating people well. 2) SPEAK! Change the narrative. 🤦‍♂️ Hundreds of protesters gather at asylum hotel in Norwich area. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Hundreds of protesters gather at asylum hotel in Norwich area

A BBC reporter at the scene says the demonstration was largely peaceful, but noisy.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Funding secured - 30 voted in favour of the leisure centre upgrades. ♻️💚🍃🏊‍♂️ But 5 Conservative councillors just voted against the decarbonisation project funding for Windrush Leisure Centre and 7 abstained 😯. It would take years to build a whole new centre. Ditch methane now!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

I am at WODC Council discussing decarbonisation of the Windrush Leisure centre - committing the funds required. It's a £2m project funded 75% from government. It's soo worth it! Even for our love-hate 50 year old building. It will bring centre emissions down 60%!

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Tuesday 22 July: Witney Corn Exchange, 2-8pm Consultation event on the *policy* sections of the 2041 Local Plan, the plan that controls planning applications and other development of our area for the coming years. See more online - yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk/en-GB/folder...

yourvoice.westoxon.gov.uk

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 05/07/2025

Hundreds of MPs didn't vote at all.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

First female chancellor. We cry. No Biggie. It's a healthy response to pressure, frustration, disappointment and nastiness. Thatcher and May cried. Why the surprise today? www.independent.co.uk/voices/there...

independent.co.uk

Opinion: Theresa May finally did something for women in her resignation speech

This isn’t about forgiveness. And it isn’t about a woman ‘finally cracking up’, either

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Reposted by Cllr Ruth Smith

Cllr Anna Railton 🌹 @annarailton.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

This is HUGE Biggest game in town for decarbonising the historic city centre & beyond

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Reposted by Cllr Ruth Smith

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Counterpoint: new Public First research shows every UK resident working adult (on a full time equivalent basis) is £466 a year better off on average as a result of international students. So let’s just publicise that instead of levying them www.publicfirst.co.uk/calculating-...

publicfirst.co.uk

Calculating the positive impact of international students on domestic living standards in the UK - Public First

Public First is today publishing the second of two pieces commissioned by the University of York around the impact of international students – this time [...]

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

Yes, leadership is needed, not fear of shouty people or reactionary votes. The need to bring people with you because it's the right thing to try.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 20/06/2025

Had to. Nobody wants to see that. But let's hope there's real funding, investment and debt cancellation soon, otherwise it's just another movement of the cliff edge.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

"Jimmy Shannon said he felt he had been prevented from speaking on behalf of disabled residents" That's an important factor - dissent must be allowed. For better policy. BBC News - Labour loses control of Cheshire council after councillors resign - BBC News www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Labour loses control of Cheshire council after councillors resign

No party has a majority on Cheshire West and Chester Council after two councillors leave the party.

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Reposted by Cllr Ruth Smith

Christian Concern for One World @ccowinfo.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

In the Thames Valley and wanting to celebrate @refugeeweek.bsky.social? Take a look at our list of events around the area - so many wonderful opportunities to celebrate refugees and the power of community. www.ccow.org.uk/events/ @refugeestogether.bsky.social @ctbi.bsky.social

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

Ooops - SHOT in Witney. Reminds me of the typo on a Nissan Leaf we used to have's satnav evey time we drove over the Manchester Ship Canal.

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Cllr Ruth Smith @labourruth.bsky.social · 08/06/2025

Theologian, Walter Brueggemann, died this week at 92. This blog post from Feb hits home in the public realm. An uncomfortable contrast of awakening vs woke, where none of us come out as the good guys.

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