Wikipedia

Independent Oxford Alliance

The Independent Oxford Alliance (IOA) is a British political party based in Oxford founded in 2023[1] to contest the 2024 Oxford City Council election. It currently has four members on the City Council and one on Oxfordshire County Council, and unsuccessfully ran a candidate in Oxford East at the 2024 United Kingdom general election. The party is opposed to the use of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to reduce car use within Oxford,[2] as well as other related measures such as bus gates and the expansion of the Zero Emission Zone.

Independent Oxford Alliance
LeaderAnne Gwinnett
RegisteredJanuary 30, 2024 (2024-01-30)
IdeologyLocalism
Opposition to LTNs
Colors    Purple and Yellow
Oxford City Council
4 / 48
Oxfordshire County Council
(Oxford seats)
1 / 13
Website
https://independentoxfordalliance.org/

History

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The Independent Oxford Alliance was launched in November 2023[1] but was not formally registered with the Electoral Commission until January 30, 2024.[3]

In the run up to the 2024 City Council elections the party was criticised in an open letter by Anneliese Dodds, the incumbent MP for Oxford East, and Susan Brown, the leader of the council, for posts made on social media by party chair Anne Gwinnett and candidate for Barton and Sandhills Chaka Artwell. Dodds called the behaviour of some senior figures in the party "appalling", saying the views expressed by these individuals would "shock the vast majority of Oxford residents"[4]. Gwinnet called the letter an attempt to "distract attention" and "a coordinated political attack".[5]

In the 2024 City Council elections the party stood candidates in 10 of the 24 wards, concentrating its efforts in East Oxford and Cowley. It won in four of them: Lye Valley, Rose Hill and Iffley, Littlemore, and Cowley.[6]

At the 2024 general election, the party fielded a candidate in Oxford East: David Henwood, councillor for Rose Hill and Iffley. He came fifth with 2,381 votes, 6% of the total, saving his deposit.[7][8]

The IOA also ran a candidate, Nasreen Majeed, in the July 2024 Marston by-election to Oxford City Council. Majeed came second with 32.1% of the vote, 44 votes short of the winning Green candidate Kate Robinson.[9]

At the 2025 Oxfordshire County Council election, the IOA won one seat in the division of Rose Hill and Littlemore, represented by David Henwood.[10] The party contested nine of the thirteen divisions within Oxford, receiving 5,161 votes in total. On the same day, the party contested the City Council by election in Headington Hill and Northway. Nasreen Majeed, the IOA candidate, came second, 16 votes behind the winning Labour candidate James Taylor.[11]

In the aftermath of the election the Independent Oxford Alliance, together with the Conservative Party and independent councillor Saj Malik, formed the "Oxfordshire Alliance" group within the County Council. Oxfordshire Alliance sits as an opposition group on the council. [12]

The party stood five candidates in the 2026 Oxford City Council election but won no additional seats on the council.

Platform

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The party has not published a formal manifesto but describes its five "shared priorities" as:

  • Transport
  • Housing
  • Care and Wellbeing
  • Education
  • "Open for Business"[13]

Electoral performance

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UK general elections

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Election Constituency Candidate Position Votes %
2024 Oxford East David Henwood 5th 2,381 6.1%

Oxford City Council elections

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Election Seats ± Position Total votes % Control
2024
4 / 48
[a]		 Increase4 4th 6,200 15.5% No overall control
2026
4 / 48
[b]		 Steady 4th 1,951 4.6% No overall control

City Council by-elections

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Year Ward Candidate Position Votes %
2024 Marston Nasreen Majeed 2nd 596 32.1
2025 Headington Hill and Northway Nasreen Majeed 2nd 445 35.5

Oxfordshire County Council elections

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Election Seats ± Position Total votes % Control
2025
1 / 13
(Oxford seats)[c]		 Increase1 5th[d] 5,161 2.7% Liberal Democrat majority

Notes

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  1. ↑ 25 seats were up for election. The IOA stood in 10.
  2. ↑ 24 seats were up for election. The IOA stood in 5.
  3. ↑ 69 seats were up for election in total, 13 of which cover Oxford.
  4. ↑ Joint with Reform UK and the Henley Residents Group.

References

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  1. 1 2 Bird, Steve (25 November 2023). "Oxford's road 'havoc' prompts new grassroots political party". The Telegraph. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ↑ Wilson, Olivia (3 July 2024). "Are LTNs a mainstream issue in the election?". BBC News. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  3. ↑ "Registration summary". The Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  4. ↑ "Pandemics cannot happen: the views of the Independent Oxford Alliance's chair". Oxford Clarion. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  5. ↑ Quarshi, Noor (2 May 2024). "Oxford 'anti-LTN' party criticised just before elections". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "Oxford City Council election results - 2 May 2024". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  7. ↑ "General election results - Oxford East constituency - 4 July 2024". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  8. ↑ Quarshi, Noor (5 July 2024). "MP 'absolutely delighted' as Labour victorious in Oxford East". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  9. ↑ "Marston ward by-election results - 18 July 2024". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  10. ↑ Oliver, Toby (3 May 2025). "Success for independent candidates at elections". Oxford Mail. Archived from the original on 3 May 2025. Retrieved 9 May 2025.
  11. ↑ "Headington Hill and Northway ward by-election results - 1 May 2025". Oxford City Council. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  12. ↑ "Oxfordshire Conservatives and independents form new alliance". Oxford Mail. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "OUR SHARED PRIORITIES". Independent Oxford Alliance. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
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