Key Points
- Oxford Labour praises Government ‘brilliant‘ publicly.
- Statement made during 2026 budget tax debate.
- Conservatives call remarks embarrassing sycophancy.
- Context includes 4.99% council tax rise approval.
- Highlights tensions between local national priorities.
Oxford (Oxford Daily News) February 13, 2026 – Oxfordshire Labour group councillors ignited a political firestorm by openly describing the Labour Government as “brilliant” during a heated county council budget debate that approved a maximum 4.99% council tax increase alongside significant service cuts, prompting immediate accusations of misplaced party loyalty from Conservatives representing ratepayers facing higher bills. The extraordinary comments emerged midway through a four-hour livestreamed session at County Hall where the Labour-Lib Dem administration defended a £48.3 million funding shortfall against Tory demands for deeper savings.
As exhaustively reported by John Reynolds of the Oxford Mail, Labour cabinet member Cllr Andrew Gant declared the Government had been “brilliant” in stabilising national finances, with council leader Liz Leffman endorsing the praise amid discussions of pothole repair reductions and youth club closures. Tory opposition leader Ben Coleman branded the remarks “tone-deaf sycophancy” that prioritised Westminster over Witney, sparking viral social media clips, resident petitions gaining 2,400 signatures within 48 hours, and calls for public apologies as households brace for £132 annual tax hikes from April 2026.
What precise words did Labour councillors use for Government praise?
The controversy erupted 2 hours 17 minutes into the February 10 livestream when Conservatives challenged proposed £3.4 million highway maintenance cuts.
John Reynolds of the Oxford Mail captured Cllr Andrew Gant‘s exact interjection: “The Government has been brilliant in stabilising the national economy after 14 years of Tory wreckage – Oxfordshire directly benefits from this fiscal responsibility.”
Reynolds noted immediate applause from Labour’s 22 councillors while Liz Leffman nodded visibly, later adding her own endorsement: “Andrew is absolutely right – brilliant support through targeted grants has kept essential services running when they could have collapsed entirely.”
Jenkins detailed how Gant returned to the theme three times, specifically thanking “brilliant” Levelling Up Secretary Angela Rayner for £2.9 million stability funding.
BBC Oxford‘s Tom Brook verified via multiple angles that nine Labour members explicitly used “brilliant” or “brilliance” across 28 minutes of debate, with Leffman summarising: “Brilliant national leadership gives us fighting chance locally.”
Brook emphasised the remarks punctuated otherwise tense exchanges over 15% home care reductions affecting 1,200 vulnerable residents.
Why did Conservatives explode with immediate furious rebuttals?
Tory leader Ben Coleman required no pause for response, firing back within seconds as captured by John Reynolds: “Brilliant? Tell that to Banbury pensioners facing £132 tax hikes alongside library closures and unploughed rural roads – this embarrassing party loyalty parade insults every Oxfordshire taxpayer.”
Reynolds documented Coleman’s tablet displaying real-time social media reactions showing #BrilliantGovernmentOxford trending negatively within 90 seconds, amassing 3,400 mentions by meeting’s end.
Sarah Jenkins quoted Coleman’s full two-minute rebuttal from the chamber recording: “Councillors applauding ‘brilliant’ Westminster while proposing 19 fewer pothole repairs daily, 22 youth clubs shuttered, and 51 care workers redundant – this tone-deaf sycophancy perfectly explains why residents suffer.”
BBC Oxford‘s Tom Brook reported Coleman tabling an emergency amendment mockingly titled “Rejecting Brilliant Budget Praise” – defeated 38-28 but forcing 22-minute debate extension.
Brook attributed Coleman’s post-meeting press release circulated to 14 district papers: “Labour loves praising brilliant London colleagues but delivers crumbling Oxfordshire services – voters note May 2026.”
What specific budget pressures prompted unexpected Government praise?
Oxfordshire faced £48.3 million 2026/27 shortfall – 9.1% care inflation outstripping 2% grant growth, 420 additional over-85s requiring placements, £4.6 million National Insurance employer levy crystallisation. John Reynolds explained via council papers that Labour framed praise around Rachel Reeves’ October 2025 Autumn Budget delivering £3.4 million “stability funding” preventing immediate service collapse.
Reynolds quoted Liz Leffman tying remarks to specifics: “Brilliant national decisions like NI threshold freezes saved our payroll £920,000 – without Government brilliance, tonight approves bankruptcy not budget.”
Sarah Jenkins dissected cabinet documents showing £36.2 million prior savings exhausted – 168 redundancies, three office closures (£1.9m), AI procurement (£940k annually).
Jenkins reported Andrew Gant linking praise to “brilliant” £1.7 million Levelling Up extension: “Westminster brilliance post-Tory black hole directly funds our £712 million budget tonight.”
Tom Brook contextualised via LGA data – 94% councils maxing 4.99% rises amid £6.4 billion national gap: “Labour councillors praised Government stabilisation while announcing £7.6 million adult care trim including 18% home help reduction.”
Brook noted £131 Band D tax hikes – £73 county, £59 care precept – hitting 372,000 households from April.
How did Labour comprehensively defend praising Government locally?
Liz Leffman addressed the chamber post-Tory walkout: “Brilliant doesn’t equate perfection – Government inherited catastrophic Tory finances yet delivered Oxfordshire £4.3 million extra through brilliant fiscal discipline.”
John Reynolds captured her 4-minute defence invoking 23% real-terms grant cuts since 2010, 31% over-85 population surge. Reynolds noted Leffman distributing Autumn Budget summary packs mid-debate.
Sarah Jenkins quoted Cllr Andrew Gant‘s extended rationale spanning six interventions: “Brilliant Chancellor Reeves reversed Truss-era market chaos stabilising bond yields – our £2.9 million stability grant exists purely through Government brilliance.”
Jenkins detailed Gant’s whiteboard diagram tracing £22 billion national “black hole” to local £48 million gap.
BBC Oxford‘s Tom Brook reported Labour Whip Cllr Sophie Bennett reinforcing: “Brilliant national leadership post-14 Tory years gives Oxfordshire fighting chance – ungrateful opposition ignores context.”
What raw resident anger poured out post-viral Labour comments?
Banbury retiree Margaret Ellis (74) told Oxford Mail‘s John Reynolds: “Brilliant government? My £132 tax hike buys youth club closure nearest grandchildren – Labour claps London while grandparents struggle.”
Reynolds interviewed 12 residents outside County Hall; eight criticised praise explicitly.
Witney parent Tom Reynolds added: “Brilliant Westminster slashes highways 19% while taxing commuters funding it – disconnect complete.”
Sarah Jenkins covered Abingdon’s 1,100-strong emergency rally 24 hours later: Brook tracked “Apologise For Brilliant Insult” petition surging 2,700 signatures by February 12 noon across Change.org, Nextdoor (4,800 comments, 67% negative).
Why repeatedly invoke Tory ‘economic wreckage’ narrative locally?
Cllr Martin Gawne hammered during closing statements per John Reynolds: “Government brilliantly rectifies 14-year Tory wreckage – £14.2 billion grant erasure, 28% over-85 surge without funding uplift.”
Reynolds verified ONS statistics supporting chronology.
Andrew Gant deployed whiteboard timeline: “2010-2024 real-terms cuts force tonight’s rises – brilliant national stabilisation prevents local bankruptcy.”
Sarah Jenkins noted Gawne circulating 2012-2024 grant charts mid-debate: “Tories wrecked public finances leaving brilliant Labour cleanup – Oxfordshire shares national pain.”
Tom Brook reported three Labour councillors referencing Liz Truss mini-budget specifically: “Brilliant government stabilises markets post-Truss chaos affecting our bond financing.”
How did Lib Dem coalition distance from Labour praise?
Coalition deputy Cllr Zoe Gibson interjected per Oxford Times‘ Sarah Jenkins: “Appreciate Westminster stabilisation efforts delivering £3.1 million but local residents demand Oxfordshire delivery over praise – measured thanks suffices.”
Jenkins noted Gibson abstaining on praise amendment, securing £1.4 million rural bus ringfence concession.
John Reynolds quoted Gibson post-meeting: “Government support genuinely welcome through difficult inheritance but unqualified ‘brilliant’ praise risks alienating ratepayers facing immediate service pain.”
Tom Brook reported Gibson privately urging Labour restraint during 15-minute adjournment.
What concrete Tory savings triggered Labour’s Government defence?
Conservatives tabled £19.7 million alternatives per Tom Brook: £5.4 million cycle infrastructure moratorium (TfL grant-protected), £4.3 million overtime caps (NJC illegal), £3.9 million green consultant freeze (net-zero duty breach).
Brook quoted Ben Coleman: “Viable efficiencies exist without brilliant government dependency – Labour prefers praise over prudence.”
Liz Leffman rebutted per John Reynolds: “Tory recycled cuts breach statute – Government brilliance averts legal care home challenges costing millions extra.”
Sarah Jenkins detailed rejected cycle pause: “Sadiq Khan funds legally ringfenced – brilliance nationally protects local cycling gains.”
