Louise Upton

I am a neuroscientist, teaching students at Oxford University. I have represented Walton Manor on the City Council for 12 years, and during 8 of those years I have taken on the extra responsibility of Cabinet positions. Being a councillor is not about grandstanding on national issues or things the City Council does not control (like roads and traffic), it’s about making our city better for everyone. Look at Labour’s record here in Oxford- we have the largest council-house building programme in decades; we have kept full exemption from council tax for those on the lowest incomes, we have become an accredited City of Sanctuary, created the Zero Carbon Oxford Partnership with big local employers to make real strides towards being a net zero place, built new community centres, installed heat pumps in all our leisure centres, reduced homelessness while the national trend rises, built the UK’s largest battery to power the Redbridge EV-charging station from renewable energy sources. We are an incredibly highly performing council! I am standing for re-election because I want to continue to make Oxford a fairer, better place to live. I am very proud of Labour’s record in administration. There are many active resident groups in Walton Manor, Norham Manor, Waterside and Park Town, and I keep in touch with them all year round. I have lived here for 30 years and I love Oxford. My year as Lord Mayor has shown me the tremendous strength we have in our diverse communities. People come here from across the globe, and I believe that we must all work together to give everyone the best chance in life.