Bicester & Woodstock: each candidate answers five questions

Candidates' answers are listed in order as seen on the Cherwell District Council website. 

Question one: Why did you decide to stand as a candidate in the general election?

Tim Funnell, Social Democratic Party: When confronted with the options for this election, I despaired and looked for an alternative, on reading the SDP manifesto a lot of their policies resonated – the SDP represents what is often described as the as the ‘sweet spot’ of British politics – tacking Left on economics and Right on culture. I’d urge you to have a read of our manifesto.

No party was representing these views, so rather than spoil my ballot, I stepped up and put my name in the ring. We may not win this time round, but as frustration grows about the lack of alternatives you will be hearing a lot more from the SDP.

Rupert Harrison, Conservative Party: I love this part of the world and I would be incredibly proud to represent our area in Parliament. This part of North and West Oxfordshire is a wonderful place to live but we face some serious challenges, most of them a result of the rapid pace of development we’ve seen over the last two decades.

I believe that a strong local MP can make a real difference by ensuring we slow things down while building up our infrastructure to catch up with new demand, whether that’s GP surgeries, roads, sewage, public transport or schools.

I worry that a Labour Government wouldn’t understand the needs of a rural area like ours, and their top-down housing targets would make our over-development problem even worse. That would make it even more important to have a strong local MP willing to stand up to them and speak up for local people.

Ian Middleton: Having stood unsuccessfully three times before in Banbury, I said I wouldn’t do it again. But the boundary changes meant I could stand to represent the area I’ve made my home for the past 32 years.

I was nominated by colleagues and felt I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try to make a difference in the area where I’ve lived for more than half my life. We face huge challenges here, and having spent years as a local activist, I think as an MP I can help make it a better place to live for everyone.

Calum Miller, Liberal Democrats: In my work as a county councillor and as a local volunteer, I have met too many residents in our area who are struggling with failing public services and rising costs. The 13-year-old girl who waited over two years for an NHS back brace and is now going to have spinal surgery because her condition has worsened.

The father who has had to move back in with his parents after his relationship broke down and now sleeps with his kids in their conservatory because of a shortage of social housing. The Conservative government has let us all down and I want to offer people a change and a fresh start in our new constituency.

Veronica Oakeshott, Labour Party: This is where I live with my young family. As a working parent, I know how great our towns and villages are, but I also see first hand the challenges we all face right now. The spiralling cost of living. Our over-stretched schools and childcare system. Our treasured NHS on its knees - which I saw up close as a live-in carer for my late mum.

As a former elected councillor and as a charity leader, I’ve made lots of positive changes to law and to people’s lives. I’ve got the law changed to tackle domestic violence and to stop companies damaging the environment.

I know how to get things done. I hope the UK will vote a Labour government in. A government that includes people with whom I’ve campaigned for years. These contacts will help me deliver change locally.

Augustine Obodo, Reform UK: I decided to stand as candidate to make Britain Great Again because the Tories and the Labour Party have failed the people of this great country. Britain is broken. The Tories have delivered: record mass migration, record NHS waiting lists and record high taxes.

Question two: What made you get into politics in the first place?

Tim Funnell: I wouldn’t say I am “into politics” and I have a distaste for professional politicians who are obsessed with the Westminster bubble and fail to connect with ordinary people. I joined the SDP in March to promote an alternative set of ideas. I am standing for Bicester and Woodstock as a local resident of the constituency.

I am a PHD-trained scientist, and my day job is within the medical science industry. Often the people that want to go into politics are those most ill-suited to govern, and for me the worse outcome would actually be winning this election - but I have stood, and if elected, I’d take my responsibility seriously.

Rupert Harrison: Being a politician isn’t an easy choice in the modern world, for politicians or their families, but I see politics first and foremost as public service. I’m an economist by training and I’m passionate about the potential for good public policy to improve people’s lives and our environment.

I’ve worked in Government, business and the voluntary sector and I believe my understanding of how to get things done for our area can make a real difference here in Oxfordshire.

Ian Middleton: After years of being successful in business I’d reached a point where I felt I’d achieved what was a lot in my own life but I hadn’t really made a difference to the world. I don’t have children so realised that I would leave nothing behind after I was gone.

I made a list of things I wanted to do to give something back and joining a political party was just one option. As is often the case with these things, that one aspiration took on a mind of its own and here I am 12 years later.

Calum Miller: It wasn’t the plan. I have always been committed to public service, whether as a volunteer or in my work. My first career was as a civil servant, where you have to be non-partisan. I served under Labour, Conservative and Lib Dem ministers.

I then worked at Oxford University to help establish its new school of government to support current and future leaders from the UK and around the world through research and teaching. Four or five years ago, I found myself increasingly worrying that things were not right in the government of our country.

Those politicians taking decisions seemed to be doing so in the interests of a narrow group of people and not for the whole country. I thought that was wrong and that the only way it would change would be if people like me who wanted to see change put themselves forward for election.

Veronica Oakeshott: When I was little, like in many families, my dad made all the big decisions in our house. That’s just how it was. Since then, I’ve always been interested in how people can get involved in shaping their own futures, how they can be heard and have impact.

I joined the Labour party twenty years ago, was elected councillor, and worked in Westminster for over five years. Throughout my career I’ve worked with people who desperately needed change. I’ve made a real difference in laws for people living with chronic health conditions and people whose communities were being threatened with destruction. As your MP I will deliver more positive change for our area.

Augustine Obodo: I decided to get into politics because I live and work locally and know the issues facing our community. As an economist and clinician, representing Bicester and Woodstock is a privilege because both areas are rich in history, culture, and community spirit.

I’m passionate about promoting their unique charm and helping to showcase all they have to offer to residents and visitors alike. The political establishment have had their chance and have failed the people of Bicester and Woodstock.

Question three: What, in your opinion, is the biggest issue facing the nation right now?

Tim Funnell: Politicians do not represent their constituents, or stand-up for the quiet majority of this country and therefore we have growing distrust and unease with our political system.

We need to reinvigorate the system with new parties and electoral reform. I’d also like to see more representation of MPs from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) backgrounds, as the numerical and analytical rigour from this training would be valuable in national decision making.

The last parliament had 15 per cent of MPs with scientific backgrounds vs 50 per cent of current graduates. Policies regarding pandemic preparation, energy transition and growing healthcare burden would be delivered more effectively if our MPs were fluent in the underlying science.

Rupert Harrison: The biggest issue facing the nation right now is securing our recovery from two unprecedented global shocks – the COVID pandemic and the biggest energy price shock in history that was triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The impact across the whole world on public services and the cost of living has been enormous, but here in the UK we are now turning a corner, with inflation back down near two per cent, the economy growing, pensions and wages rising strongly, and waiting lists in the NHS starting to come down.

After a very difficult few years I believe that we need to stick with a plan that is working and not put the recovery at risk with higher taxes and more public borrowing.

Ian Middleton: Our health and social care system is close to collapse. It’s concerning that in the future it might not be there to look after us all in the way it has been for my whole life. Social care is a big part of that as I discovered after my mother developed dementia in 2020.

I learned from that experience just how vital it is for social care to work in concert with the NHS. Those who work within the NHS need our support and care in the same way that they have supported and cared for us.

Calum Miller: The residents I talk to express the greatest concerns about the NHS, sewage in our rivers, how to pay ever-increasing bills, and the climate emergency. But I think the biggest issue is a deeper one. So many people tell me that they have lost faith that we can solve our problems.

I understand why. Yet it makes me very angry. Over the last five years and more, the Conservatives have pursued a strategy of dividing people and using fear to try to win support. This has contributed to a deep lack of confidence. We do face huge challenges but I have great belief in our ability, as a nation and a community, to respond to them.

We need leaders who bring people together, who are honest about the scale of the challenges and willing to listen to other viewpoints yet who have the drive and determination to tackle them creatively.

Veronica Oakeshott: Britain is broken. From record waiting lists, to crumbling schools, to crimes going unsolved, our public services just aren’t working. And the economy isn’t working either - people are feeling poorer and struggling to make ends meet. So the biggest issue is fixing our economy and saving our public services after 14 years of Tory austerity and chaos. We need change. In this brand new constituency, any of the three parties could win.

The polls are very close. So people should ask themselves who is best able to deliver change? Not the Tories, who want five more years of the same. Not the Lib Dems or Greens, who will only ever be small parties and never able to deliver change without being in power.

Only Labour - with fully-funded, sensible, credible plans to fix our economy and save our public services. Only a vote for Labour can deliver the change we need.

Augustine Obodo: The issue facing our nation right now is cost of living, record mass migration, record waiting NHS waiting lists and record high taxes, infrastructure development, affordable housing, healthcare access, and environmental sustainability.

As a representative, I aim to champion initiatives that address these concerns, advocating for improved infrastructure, affordable housing solutions, accessible healthcare services, and sustainable development practices to enhance the quality of life for all residents in Bicester and Woodstock Constituency.

Question four: What is your go-to coffee order?

Tim Funnell: Double espresso.

Rupert Harrison: I can’t really function without a strong white coffee in the morning, and my wife and I don’t go anywhere without our little coffee pot. But these days I’m trying to limit myself to one coffee a day – I find I sleep better and have more energy.

Ian Middleton: Americano with at least two sugars. Not really very good for me, but with the number of meetings I need to attend every day, I need the caffeine and the energy!

Calum Miller: I’m not overly fussy as long as it’s strong! At home, it’s a percolator. If I order out, it will usually be a flat white. 

Veronica Oakeshott: Cappuccino - old school and the calories power me through my leafleting and door knocking rounds.

Augustine Obodo: My favourite is a classic latte.

Question five: What is your main hobby outside of work?

Tim Funnell: I am bad at pottery, mediocre at growing veg and pretty good at walking our Great Dane called Dusty.

Rupert Harrison: I try to spend as much time as possible with my children, which these days mostly means a lot of sporting activities. One of them plays cricket for Oxfordshire so I run a busy taxi service across the county, and I coach the other one's village football team. Like Oxford United we’ve just been promoted so we’re excited about next season.

Ian Middleton: I was an aspiring musician in the 1980s and have always hankered after returning to the studio with a seminal album. Not sure if I’ll ever do that, but I have a home studio that is mostly gathering dust due to the pressure of my council responsibilities and other work.

I’m determined to get back in there though and rediscover my first love of music. I think I’ll probably be doing it under an alias though as it’s probably not that cool now to be a performing politician!

Calum Miller: My wife and I have four kids so - like most parents - I don’t have much time for my own hobbies! I do run with our dog and volunteer as a junior rugby coach, which I love. When I get the chance, I enjoy playing football, rugby and tennis, as well as longer-distance running and cycling.

Veronica Oakeshott: Running. It’s a great way to unwind and mentally stand back from all the campaigning, work and parenting. I’m also very lucky to have the beautiful Cherwell countryside around the corner.

I’ve seen lots of wildlife - deer, hares, and all sorts of birds - whilst I’m out running. I feel strongly that we have to protect our environment as green spaces are so important for people’s wellbeing and preserving our planet.

Augustine Obodo: Football and listening to music.