Last night local members voted to readopt Victoria Prentis as the Conservative candidate for the Banbury constituency.
In January 2021, the Boundary Commission for England launched a nationwide review into the geography of parliamentary constituencies. Their proposals will result in the effective split of the Banbury constituency with the creation of a new Bicester and Woodstock constituency alongside Banbury.
The new Banbury constituency will comprise Banbury town plus the Wards of Adderbury, Bloxham and Bodicote, Cropredy, Sibfords and Wroxton and Deddington. It will also take in the Wards of Chadlington and Churchill, Charlbury and Finstock, Chipping Norton, Kingham, Rollright and Enstone and the Bartons from the Witney constituency.
The Bicester and Woodstock constituency will comprise the District Council Wards of Bicester East, Bicester North & Caversfield, Bicester South & Ambrosden, Bicester West and Fringford & Heyfords from the current Banbury constituency, the Wards of Kidlington East and Kidlington West which will transfer from the Oxford West and Abingdon constituency and the Wards of Eynsham and Cassington, Freeland and Hanborough, North Leigh, Stonesfield and Tackley and Woodstock and Bladon which will transfer from Witney constituency. All of the Launton and Otmoor Ward will also move into new constituency including those villages currently in the Henley constituency.
The members' vote last night means that Victoria will be the Conservative Party candidate for the Banbury constituency at the next General Election.
Victoria said: “I’m really pleased to have been re-adopted as the Conservative candidate for the Banbury constituency. We know that the next election is likely to be fought on new boundaries so it was important to sort my re-selection before candidates for the new Bicester and Woodstock constituency come forward. The timeline for their selection is yet to be confirmed by Conservative Campaign Headquarters (CCHQ).
My decision to stand in Banbury was not easy; I remain committed to all my constituents across North Oxfordshire and will represent them in Parliament up until the next General Election."
