A DEBATE on free speech was denounced as an electioneering stunt by Conservative councillors, one of whom referred to being ‘figuratively stoned’ by the ‘church of woke’. As Oxfordshire County Councillors met for an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, Conservative councillor Arash Fatemian moved a motion for debate which suggested the council write to Oxford MP Layla Moran to say it was ‘profoundly disappointed’ to hear a view she expressed on free speech during a BBC Question Time debate. During the programme, Ms Moran, the Lib Dem MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, was asked about the education secretary Gavin Williamson’s plans to introduce ‘free speech champions’ in universities.
Oxford County Hall GV general scene. Picture: Ed Nix OXFORDSHIRE s council leaders did not rise to the request for an apology after a £1.6m payout of taxpayers money which led to accusations they were asleep at the wheel . The county council had to make the £1,607,338.57 payout to Marston Holdings Ltd, after the company challenged the way a car parking enforcement contract was awarded in 2019. But the payment only came to light this February in a report which summarised the mistakes made and the lessons learned. At a specially convened meeting yesterday, the council s cabinet were asked to apologise for their part in the mistakes which led to the payout.
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