Two more Oxfordshire MPs have defended having local council roles following strong calls for those with low attendance rates at meetings to step down.
Both Charlie Maynard MP and Freddie van Mierlo MP have said they are able to deliver to residents in both roles.
This comes after Liam Walker, deputy leader of the Conservative group on West Oxfordshire District Council, said that MPs who are also councillors should “step aside and let someone else do it” if they are not showing up to meetings.
Read more: MPs holding local council roles criticised for poor council meeting attendance
Freddie van Mierlo, MP for Henley and Thame, said: “I am fully committed to serving residents in my role as county councillor for Chalgrove and Watlington until the next local elections in May 2025.
“Over the past three years, I have championed local causes and furthered key projects in Chalgrove, Watlington and the surrounding villages.
“I will continue to work hard to ensure the success of these projects and campaigns over the next five months.
“Boundary changes mean that the Chalgrove and Watlington division will cease to exist at the next election and will be split three ways.
“Because of this I have come to the view that it is not in the best interests of residents to elect a new councillor for such a short period of time for a division that will no longer exist at the next elections.”
Charlie Maynard, MP for Witney and district councillor on West Oxfordshire District Council, says he has made it clear that he intends to step down from the council in May when county council elections are due to take place.
He said: “I’ve been able to deliver for the residents of Standlake, Aston and Stanton Harcourt ward using my joint role as MP and district councillor.
“For example, on Monday I spoke in Parliament about the need to reform the Main River flood designation which has had such a negative impact on Bablock Hythe and Northmoor.”
Between the general election and the end of 2024, Charlie Maynard had an attendance rate of 33 per cent at West Oxfordshire District Council meetings.
Freddie van Mierlo, who sits on both Oxfordshire County Council and South Oxfordshire District Council, has an attendance record of 25 per cent for county council meetings and 17 per cent for district council meetings.
Calum Miller, MP for Bicester and Woodstock, also maintained it was possible to juggle both MP and councillor roles, and that he chose not to stand down so he could see projects through and avoid the cost of a by-election.
Since last year’s general election, 62 of the 650 MPs have remained in their roles as local councillors.
The government is reviewing the kind of work MPs are allowed to do outside parliament.
