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Gareth Epps

@garethepps.bsky.social

140 followers 89 following 270 posts

Liberal Democrat county councillor for Deddington, North Oxfordshire. He/him. Campaigner for pubs.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · Sep 28

Recently I brought Calum Miller MP to the site of Ardley station. A developer-funded reprovided station here is essential to avoiding gridlock should Heyford Park New Town, Puy du Fou and OxSFRI go ahead.

Sign the petition at: www.oxonld.uk/ardley-station

Calum Miller MP and Cllr Gareth Epps pictured at the site of the former Ardley station. They are campaigning for the station to be reopened and have launched a petition at: https://www.oxonld.uk/ardley-station

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 10h

Looks like it’s doing its job, so far.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 11h

“Bad actors are all too happy to use the law as a tool for injustice. Liberals who can or will not see that are not worthy of the name."

James Graham @jamesgraham.theliberati.net · 20h

I was genuinely surprised that the Lib Dems decided to pull the pin out of this grenade when even the EHRC hasn't changed its guidance to political parties, and yet here we are www.theliberati.net/quaequamblog...

“Trans quotas” and why people hate liberals — Quaequam Blog!

Too many liberals have a tendency to confuse their priorities between legalism and justice, as the latest internal Lib Dem row about transgender representation illusatrates

www.theliberati.net

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 11h

The Plus recommendations are the best on this. I’m proud to be recommended by them and the Young Liberals - I may not be young but I’m too radical for the Radical Association!

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 12h

Thanks!

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 14h

I’m also a Plus member….

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

Not even sure they’re talking the talk this round.

You’re much missed.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

Depends which form of nuclear. I’m working on an ethical version, but not till tomorrow.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

It seems the bunker inhabited by the leadership is impervious to the approach the Greens are taking. Cloth-eared isn’t the half of it.

🦇🤘 Rigg-or mortis 🔶️🏳️‍🌈 @rigg.lgbt · 1d

Lib dems: playing 5D Chess with the transphobes - static in the polls

Greens: telling the transphobes in no uncertain terms they're not welcome - overtaking us.

There's a lesson there. I'm sceptical our leadership will learn it.

Election Maps UK @electionmaps.uk · 1d

Westminster Voting Intention:

RFM: 27% (+1)
LAB: 17% (-3)
CON: 17% (=)
GRN: 16% (+1)
LDM: 15% (=)
SNP: 3% (-1)

Via @yougov.co.uk, 26-27 Oct.
Changes w/ 19-20 Oct.

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Reposted by Gareth Epps

CoHSAT - Coalition for Healthy Streets and Active Travel (Oxon) @cohsat.bsky.social · 1d

Campaigners wanting to permit even more traffic in #Oxford will be protesting this week at "key congestion points".
Which rather undermines their case that no action was required to reduce congestion in Oxford.

Text saying campaigners will protest at 'key congestion points'

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Reposted by Gareth Epps

April-Bobbing @aprilciate.bsky.social · 1d

…people who will stop at nothing.

They lose at every conference floor vote, but they still seem to hold more agency and power than members who were on the actual national party executive. Using courts as a threat, foreign bodies to create their own ideological positions come true

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

There are clearly now people whose positions are untenable.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

This will not end well. The elections need to be suspended, or trans candidates will be left with no choice but to sue the party. Alternatively, members will call a Special Conference.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

(This is the same tiny group of anti-trans activists that has repeatedly sued the party, showing their interests do not lie in strengthening Liberalism).

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

So the party’s Chief Executive and Returning Officer have overruled the will of the party. They chose to communicate the decision on the eve of ballots being released, only notifying candidates after howls of outrage. The miscommunication was deliberate as a likely capitulation was anticipated.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

The party has quotas by gender. In 2023 there was an attempt by the tiny minority of anti-trans activists to remove them. I successfully moved Next Business on the proposal.

The same proposal reared its head this Autumn; again, next business was moved. The party’s support couldn’t be clearer.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

The decision is outrageous, a capitulation to forces in direct opposition to the party’s fundamental values. It also breaches election rules by moving the goalposts in the middle of the contest.

Action is needed. I have written to the key protagonists, in terms.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

I’ve not been online but have now learned of the scandalous decision to rewrite Lib Dem election rules, in the middle of the party’s 3-yearly internal elections, to specifically discriminate against trans people who are candidates.

[1/several]

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

Rearrange these words:

Happen
To
Waiting
Accident

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

Do we know that the CEO instigated this latest capitulation?

Given the implications, that is a significant piece of information.

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Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 1d

It is indeed a mess: anti-democratic, discriminatory and a breach of the party’s own election rules.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 2d

Or specific individuals within it. The Party fortunately is bigger than them.

Rocket just sent off.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 5d

Dim diolch!

nation.cymru/news/tickets...

Tickets still available for Reform Caerphilly victory event

Emily Price Tickets for Reform’s UK’s Welsh victory event are still available to buy online with Caerphilly by-election candidate Llŷr Powell booked as a guest speaker along with Lee Anderson who was...

nation.cymru

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 5d

Happens all the time - it’s what counts as pub sports there these days

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 5d

Highest turnout ever in a Senedd by election and in a Caerffili Senedd election. Which if true would prove you right.

Gareth Epps @garethepps.bsky.social · 6d

Good to see the Bicester Advertiser keeping up with the times and running their first political column from the party with its MP and council leadership….. over a year late. Never mind, at least they’ve caught up. #paywall

www.bicesteradvertiser.net/news/2556027...

Calum Miller MP's first column for the Bicester Advertiser

It has been a privilege to serve as your MP over the last sixteen months.