General election 2024: Voters head to the polls

RESIDENTS of the Henley and Thame constituency will head to the polls today (Thursday) to vote in the general election.

The seat is being contested by Caroline Newton (Conservative), Freddie van Mierlo (Lib Dem), Jo Robb (Green), Nanda Manley-Browne (Labour), Peter Shields (Reform UK), Maryse Pomlett (Social Democrat) and David Carpin (independent).

They are looking to succeed Conservative John Howell, who had been in office since 2008, taking over from former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Mr Howell, 68, who signalled his intention to retire in April last year, received a majority of more than 14,000 at the 2019 general election.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm and residents are required to present photo ID before casting their vote.

The election count is being run by South Oxfordshire District Council and will take place at the White Horse Leisure and Tennis Centre in Abingdon.

The result will be declared tomorrow (Friday) at about 5am.

Ms Newton, who lives in Britwell Salome with her husband Matthew and two daughters, was a South Oxfordshire district councillor from 2017 to 2023 and an Oxfordshire county councillor from 2012 to 2014.

She also chaired the South Oxfordshire Conservative Association and worked as a special advisor to Mr Johnson while he was prime minister for several months in 2022.

Mr van Mierlo, who lives in Henley with his wife and daughter, has been county councillor for Chalgrove and Watlington since 2021.

He also sits on the climate and ecological emergencies advisory committee on South Oxfordshire District Council, where he represents the Watlington ward.

Mr van Mierlo works as a consultant to companies, NGOs, foundations and patient groups on issues including access to healthcare and the environment.

Ms Robb, who lives in Shepherds Green with her husband and two sons, is a South Oxfordshire district councillor for the Woodcote and Rotherfield ward.

She is the council’s River Thames “champion” and encourages sustainability and access to the river as well as highlighting water quality concerns.

Ms Robb is also a member of the Henley Mermaids, a group of open-water swimmers which promotes the environment and campaigns against sewage dumping.

Ms Manley-Browne, a Lambeth councillor who formerly represented Brixton North in London, works in the NHS and is a school governor.

Mr Shields, who lives in the Didcot and Wantage constituency, stood for election to the district council in Didcot South in May last year but was unsuccessful.

He was named Reform UK’s parliamentary candidate after Mr Carpin was sacked by then party leader Richard Tice over “offensive” posts on social media. But he was proposed as a candidate for the election by Mr Carpin.

Ms Pomlett, who lives in South Oxfordshire, previously worked for the county council in adult social care, latterly as a commissioner where she reviewed and purchased services.

She stood in the county council elections in 2021 to represent the Benson and Cholsey ward but was unsuccessful.

Mr Carpin, an IT worker from Woodcote, stood for Reform UK in Woodcote and Rotherfield ward on the district council last year but was unsuccessful.

Pictured from left, Mr Carpin, Ms Manley-Browne, Mr Shields, Ms Newton and councillors van Mierlo and Robb, at a hustings event in Henley on June 24. Ms Pomlett did not attend.