About Laura

Hello!  I’m Laura Greatrex, your Labour candidate for Didcot West division in the Oxfordshire County Council elections on May 1.

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Since the start of my working life – managing a housing estate in London - I have always tried to make that extra difference in the way I support others. Living and working on a housing estate had a huge impact both professionally and personally, because a key part of my job was liaising with the local council to rehouse homeless families in secure accommodation. These early experiences helped me appreciate that it was elected Labour representatives who were most likely to achieve real change in and for local communities. I have been a Labour supporter since then, working ceaselessly in all areas of my life to secure better public services in communities across the United Kingdom.

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I firmly believe in the power of local government, whether because of my work to bring about real policy change for Scottish Local Government as a special advisor, or through many years in professional services supporting public service reform in local councils. This involved work in the areas of health and social care, education, finance, investment, and regeneration. 

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Clear leadership is needed at all levels of government, so that policy direction and implementation routes are communicated clearly to residents, feedback heard, and success achieved. I have worked as an adviser where Labour was either in the majority, in coalition, or in opposition, and I appreciate the importance of due process, high standards and political judgment based on deep experience. I am a member of the Labour Party, GMB Trade Union, and Co-Operative Society, as I believe the potential of any political endeavour is best strengthened through affiliation and partnership with like-minded organisations.

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I am particularly passionate about social justice, equality, and the importance of young people reaching their full potential. I helped to set up a charity to support young people in becoming volunteers, and was a board member there for a number of years. Graduate training schemes I established are still running 15 years later, and I have run school workshops which encourage students to become more confident and engaged. I have also gone into prisons to help young offenders improve their chances of securing work.

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As I have matured, I have become increasingly keen to make a direct impact in my local community, for example by working locally with the Didcot Foodbank and HomeStart. My daughters are lucky enough to go to Didcot Girls’ School, a beacon of excellence. We would all like to think that we can enjoy access to excellent education, housing, transport, employment and health care facilities, but I realise that some in our communities have not benefited as much as others, something which I find increasingly unacceptable. I now have the opportunity to step forward to help bring about the changes my local community needs and deserves, by standing to be Didcot West’s representative on Oxfordshire County Council. 

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I believe that my experience, passion and commitment make me a strong candidate, and I would greatly welcome the opportunity to represent and serve you.