Bicester residents have come together as the future of one of the town’s popular parks is under threat. Under draft proposals released by the council, the children’s play area in Banbury Road could be demolished to make space for a community garden. However, the group says that local residents have not been adequately consulted in the plans and many feel strongly that the recreation area should be retained and refurbished instead. Susan Hall has lived in Bicester for 34 years and regularly used the park with her children and now visits with her grandchildren. She is now leading the campaign to save the equipment.
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The Metropolitan Police is investigating an officer who shouted “Free Palestine” at a London protest over the Israel-Gaza conflict.
The uniformed female officer was filmed at a pro-Palestinian demonstration, accepting a white rose and hugging a protester.
She was heard shouting “Free, free Palestine” to cheers from the crowd.
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“We are aware of a video that has been posted on social media which shows an officer joining in with chanting while on duty at a demonstration,” the Metropolitan Police said.
“While officers are encouraged to positively engage with those attending demonstrations, they know they are not to actively participate or adopt political positions.
Latest civil service & public affairs moves May 17
New appointments in the civil service, UK politics, and public affairs, via our colleagues at Dods People
Government departments
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs – Lord Benyon appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Minister for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity), replacing Lord Gardiner.
Sea Fish Industry Authority – Michael Sheldon appointed as Chair and Jeff Halliwell as Deputy Chair.
Department for Health and Social Care – Thomas Waite appointed as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England on an interim basis for the next year.
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy – Vikas Shah and Stephen Hill appointed as non-executive board members.
Key positions in the London Assembly were decided at this morning s annual meeting, the first since the elections. Credit: PA Labour will not have any members sit as chairs or vice chairs of any of the London Assembly’s scrutiny committees following this morning’s annual meeting. Assembly members this morning voted on who should take up positions at the first meeting since the GLA elections, but the City Hall Labour group has accused the Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats of forming a “coalition” to “block” its members from key scrutiny committee positions. An agreement between the three parties, who have a total of 14 members on the Assembly, meant that Labour could not overrule their nominations for the chairs and vice chairs of the committees that scrutinise the work of the mayor, Metropolitan Police, TfL and other GLA bodies.
Key positions in the London Assembly were decided at this morning s annual meeting, the first since the elections. Credit: PA Labour will not have any members sit as chairs or vice chairs of any of the London Assembly’s scrutiny committees following this morning’s annual meeting. Assembly members this morning voted on who should take up positions at the first meeting since the GLA elections, but the City Hall Labour group has accused the Greens, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats of forming a “coalition” to “block” its members from key scrutiny committee positions. An agreement between the three parties, who have a total of 14 members on the Assembly, meant that Labour could not overrule their nominations for the chairs and vice chairs of the committees that scrutinise the work of the mayor, Metropolitan Police, TfL and other GLA bodies.