Lib Dems lose control of Oxfordshire County Council after representative moves to Switzerland
Will Boucher-Giles has stepped down from the authority
The Liberal Democrats have lost control of Oxfordshire County Council for a second time in three months as one of its representatives has resigned to move abroad.
On July 16, Will Boucher-Giles stepped down from the authority, leaving the Lib Dem administration without a majority on the council weeks after it had regained control.
The former representative for Chesterton and Launton has left his role “due to a family move to Switzerland”, a Lib Dem spokesperson has confirmed.
The party will continue to run the county council in a minority as they did after councillors Ben Higgins and Nick Cotter left the party in quick succession – this could mean it will have to seek support from other parties to pass its policies.
Mr Higgins has since re-joined the Lib Dems, restoring its majority for just under a month until Mr Boucher-Giles’ departure.
Lib Dem council leader Tim Bearder had said Mr Higgins’ return was “providing stability so that we can get on with the job” of running the county.
On the latest departure, Conservative county leader and West Oxfordshire councillor Liam Walker said: “Oxfordshire deserves better than the chaos we’ve seen over recent months.
“Most importantly, the residents of the Chesterton and Launton division deserve strong, consistent representation.
“Instead, they’ve been taken for granted by the Liberal Democrats.”
A by-election is set to take place, and a party spokesperson said the Oxfordshire Lib Dems hope to take back their majority at the county council with “an opportunity to campaign on their record, which includes delivering safer roads in local villages and record investment in county council services”.