Post updated 13 June 2024
Here is some information about the candidates standing to be the next MP for the Witney constituency. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order of their surnames. Since we put this post online on 30 May nominations for the election have closed and there are seven candidates. We originally put on details of the candidates from the five main parties. There are two others who have joined the list - David Cox (Heritage Party) and Barry Ingleton (Independent). Information about both of these has been added below. You should be able to find information about all the candidates from other online sources.
The other change is that Georgia Meadows, who had been named as the prospective Labour candiate, decided to withdraw for personal reasons. She has been replaced by Dr Antonio Weiss, some information about whom can be found below.
Robert Courts - Conservative
Robert Courts was first elected as the Member of Parliament for Witney and West Oxfordshire in the by-election in October 2016, and has been proudly serving the area ever since. He was re-elected in both the 2017 and 2019 General Elections, on both occasions achieving over 55% of the vote.
In September 2020, Robert was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department for Transport, with responsibility for aviation and maritime.
Before his promotion to Government, Robert was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport, having previously served as a PPS in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from January to July 2018 and to the Secretary of State for the Environment from August 2019 until February 2020.
Robert has supported a number of groups in Parliament. He served as Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Small and Micro-businesses and founded the APPG for Community Transport; he was also the Vice-Chair (RAF) of the APPG for the Armed Forces, the APPG for Aerospace, the APPG for Dementia, and the APPG for Cycling.
Robert lives with his wife, Kathryn, and two young children, Henry and Isabella, in Bladon.
David Roy Cox - Heritage Party
The whole of Witney constituency is changing due to legal mass uncontrolled immigration. I stand against this as this is having an enormous negative effect, firstly being a financial net drain and placing enormous pressure on our already overstretched and overburdened public services. Secondly who are the people that are coming here on mass ? Simple questions here: are they security-background checked? are they refugees ? are they here to work or study ? and who is paying to house them ? and do they hold the values of our fine nation being prepared to integrate, learn the language, history and culture or are they simply here as economic migrants from safe countries who could not give two hoots, continuing to shovel the problems of their home country to here, import the third world become the third world....well no thank - you control our borders.
David Roy Cox Heritage Party Candidate Witney Constituency
Barry Ingleton - Independent
I am standing because I feel there needs to be a change, not just a different party but a fresh opportunity to be different. Voting for me is the only way of ensuring that Witney and surrounding towns and villages have an MP with no party responsibility, a 100% focus on the constituents, and does not have to defend baggage of party history and questionable choices. I have called this area my home for 21 years. I have a proven track record of creative, innovative education, mental health, and care support services for young people, while working hard to give people a voice who once felt they did not have one.
Richard Langridge - Reform UK
I live in Witney with my Wife, Alexandra and have lived in the Constituency all my life.
I have run my own Accountancy business for the last 26 years.
I served as a District Councillor in West Oxfordshire for 15 years from 2007-2022, firstly as a Conservative, and then as an Independent. For most of that time I served on the Council’s Cabinet, holding every role apart from Housing. I also served as a County Councillor for 4 years at Oxfordshire County Council.
I was also the Conservative Constituency Chairman here, working closely with our Member of Parliament, David Cameron, whilst he was Prime Minister.
It has become clear to me that the Conservatives no longer stand for the values I believe in, and can no longer be said to be Conservative in any meaningful sense.
In my opinion, Parliament has become undemocratic and totally detached from the views of the majority of people it is meant to serve.
Only Reform UK stands for the Freedom I believe in, and has the Policies our Country so desperately needs, and only Reform UK can take our Country out of the mess it is currently in.
I believe that Reform UK have the values, ethics and policies to take our Country forward into a positive and exciting future - a Country that values traditions and history, alongside a strong sense of diversity and inclusivity, with a love of Liberty alongside responsibility.
Charlie Maynard - Liberal Democrat
Charlie has been elected as the Liberal Democrats' candidate to be the next MP for the Witney constituency. He is also a district councillor for the Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt ward and the chair of the Witney Oxford Transport Group, leading the project to rebuild the railway line linking Oxford, Eynsham, Witney and Carterton. Charlie lives with his family between Witney and Stanton Harcourt.
For more than three years, Charlie Maynard has been leading the drive to rebuild the railway, first as Chair of the cross-party Witney Oxford Transport Group, now as a councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council. A train would give us a fast, reliable, green transport solution with Oxford reachable in 9 minutes from Eynsham, 16 from Witney and 22 from Carterton.
He is also supporting a project for generating green energy by iinstalling hydro generators on weirs on the Upper Thames.
Andrew Prosser - Green Party
Andrew has lived in Witney for 25 years and is married with 2 daughters. He runs his own business and helps international companies reduce their carbon, water, and supply chain impacts. He has previously coached girls’ football teams and helped organise six-aside football for many years. He was also a volunteer for the Samaritans charity in London.
Andrew served as a Witney Town Councillor from 2019-23 and has been a District Councillor since 2021. He is an Executive Member and is responsible for the Climate Action and Nature Recovery portfolio on the West Oxfordshire District Council Executive.
Andrew graduated from City, University of London. He started his career in manufacturing in Germany after working in the United States and Africa, and on an industrial placement for BP Plc in London, which coincidentally was when they were rebranding to Beyond Petroleum - it didn’t come to pass!
He began working with environmental technologies over 25 years ago and worked with Government and Development Agencies to support innovations and companies moving into the renewable energy sector, including Offshore Wind. He also played an early role in developing and measuring the carbon footprint of business and products.
Andrew studied an Advanced Diploma in Environmental Conservation from Oxford University 2001-03, before setting up his own environmental business. He was Vice Chair of the Oxford European Association and joined the Green Party in 2018 to drive political action on Climate Change and help build a greener, fairer society.
Antonio Weiss - Labour Party
Dr Antonio Weiss has been selected as Labour’s parliamentary candidate for the Witney Constituency following Georgia Meadow’s brave decision to step down due to a family bereavement and the snap nature of the General Election.
Antonio believes passionately in the power of public services to make Britain better. He is a partner at a specialist public services consultancy; his work has included helping establish the NHS AI Lab, scaling up the Government Digital Service and supporting our UK defence and space sectors.
The thirty-seven-year-old father of two is an award-winning author of four books on business and management issues for the Financial Times and other leading publishers.
“Witney deserves better than 14 years of failure from the Tories. On the 4th of July, only voting The Labour Party in Witney will give you a strong voice in the next government.” Antonio commented. “It’s a privilege to be Witney’s candidate. Let’s make something special happen.”
Antonio’s key campaign priorities for Witney will be:
Restoring the “British promise” so that each generation will do better than the last, by bringing back economic stability and growth;
Cleaning up the sewage in the Windrush, the Thames and our other rivers and protecting our beautiful countryside and environment;
Rebuilding public services so they serve the British people from cradle to grave, establishing proper childcare provision, restoring youth services, rescuing our NHS and delivering a lasting social care settlement.
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