About me:
My vision for our community

Councillor Les Sibley
The local Labour Party Candidate with a record of true local commitment to our community.

BRINGING LOCAL COMMUNITIES TOGETHER TO BUILD A FAIRER SOCIETY

"My vision for Labour in Banbury, Bicester and the Villages is for us as a Party to put people first so that we create neighbourly communities where individual responsibility and caring towards one another helps to build a fairer society"

I was proud and privileged to serve the Banbury, Bicester & North Oxon Villages Constituency as the Labour Party Candidate at the General Election in 2001 and 2005. With the strong support of the local Labour Party and with our mutual endeavours, we gained excellent results by finishing a strong second in both Elections. These are two results that we can all be proud of in our Constituency, especially as we pushed the Lib Dems even further back into third place, making the next General Election a two horse race between Labour and the Conservatives.

I believe that with more time to campaign as we approach the next general election , and by working hard as a team, we can change the political landscape of our community and create a little bit of history by winning the North Oxfordshire seat, providing Banbury & Bicester constituency with its first ever Labour M.P.   

A lifelong commitment
Throughout my working life I have been passionately committed to the Labour movement and have developed a proven track record as an experienced Trade Unionist and Labour Party activist. People who know me know they can depend on me to get things done. My record of service shows results delivered both at the grassroots community level and in national and regional policy making.

I am committed to Labour's priority of tackling inequalities in our communities, to establish a fairer society where everyone has an even chance and the same access to new opportunities.

The key issues for our community
My vision for Labour in Bicester, Banbury and the Villages is for us as a party to create neighbourly communities, where people look out for each other and act on their rights and responsibilities. Locally, the Labour movement is strong and there is potential to further mobilise and strengthen the membership to achieve this.

I would continue to fight alongside local labour members and activists on key issues including:

• The economy: I support the government’s efforts to do whatever is necessary to reduce the impact of the financial crisis on the lives of ordinary people and on local businesses.  With so much uncertainty ahead of us, I believe what matters most is that local politicians are in close touch with the people they represent and are ready to act quickly to bring help and advice and to take personal care in working with people to overcome their difficulties.
• Health: everybody should have access to the best healthcare and hospital treatment    regardless of their ability to pay. We should shift money from needless hospital administration and red tape directly back into patient care. We must continue with the campaign to  keep open our local Hospitals and provide new facilities to cope with changes in demand for healthcare in our community.The future of Horton General in Banbury is much improved following the successful campaign to protect its services. We will continue our efforts to win a new NHS Community Hospital for Bicester and surrounding areas, a campaign that has the overwhelming support of local residents.
• Crime and disorder: drugs and organised crime are the cause of many of our burglaries and car thefts in the constituency. With dealers operating around our schools, tough measures are needed, with greater use of local Police Officers who know the area responding more promptly to local needs. By working in partnership with the police and with more Bobbies on the Beat, supported by our Street Wardens, we can reduce crime and the fear of crime. 
• Pensions: Older people have the right to a decent pension. This must be supported by clear and consistent policies so there can be no doubt or disparity in what people are entitled to. I welcome the change of heart by the government to restore the earnings link to pensions.
• Education: all of our children in the community should have access to first class education, regardless of economic status. Record investment by this Government has led to better school buildings, smaller class sizes, and higher standards of numeracy and literacy being achieved and greater early stage education through nurseries.Our future depends more than anything on the strength of its education system, which is the motor driving both individual opportunity and national prosperity. We must continue to fund the infrastructure of education, recruit new staff and to encourage and reward outstanding teachers.  
• Housing: we should work to ensure that good quality affordable, eco-friendly housing is available for local people and for first time buyers.
• Villages: we need to retain and improve Post Offices, public transport, shops, and schools. These amenities are essential in protecting the vitality and viability of rural communities.

I am proud of the positive changes our government has made since 1997 and I am supportive of of the massive efforts we are making to face up to the challenge of a global financial crisis. Despite the difficulties however I believe we are in danger of making grave long term mistakes if we fail to deliver high quality public services, and as your Parliamentary Candidate I pledge to put forward strong arguments to the government to  press on with an agenda for change which benefits the many, not the privileged few.

Best wishes

Councillor Les Sibley

Learn more about me in My C.V.