The Oxford city region has a thriving economy and is one of the few parts of the country to make a net positive contribution to the national economy. Oxford City is at the region’s heart and is world-famous both as a tourist destination and as a centre for learning and research. Under restructuring proposals put forward by Oxfordshire County Council and two local District Councils the City’s status would be similar to that of a Parish Council. In your role as a local MP what model of governance for Oxford and Oxfordshire would you advocate and support?

Please leave answers and comments using the box below.

With nominations now closed, here are the candidates in the two Oxford constituencies for the General Election on 8 June as reported by BBC South Live. For individual candidates in Oxford East I have where possible added a link to a page with their personal background. [Update 16 May: Chaka Artwell has not provided a personal background but instead has given a campaign statement.]

Oxford East

Currently held by Andrew Smith (Lab, not standing for re-election)

Candidate	Party	Twitter
Chaka Artwell	Ind		Campaign statement
Suzanne Bartington	Con	@cllrbartington	Personal background
Anneliese Dodds	Lab	@AnnelieseDodds	Personal background
Kirsten Johnson	LibDem	@DrKirstenJ	Personal background
Larry Sanders	Green	@Larry4OxEast	Personal background

Oxford West & Abingdon

Currently held by Nicola Blackwood (Con)

Candidate	Party	Twitter
Nicola Blackwood	Con	@NicolaBlackwood
Alan Harris	UKIP
Layla Moran	LibDem	@LaylaMoran
Marie Tidball	Lab	@MarieTidball

From Kirsten Johnson’s facebook page and the Liberal Democrat’s national website, 7  May 2017.

Born in the United States, Dr Kirsten Johnson received her doctorate in music from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She moved to Oxford in 1994 upon marrying her English husband and became a naturalised British Citizen in 2002. She is an international concert pianist and in her professional career she has recorded fourteen albums of solo piano music. Her recordings are played on radio stations around the world.

Kirsten entered politics in 2015 as the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Candidate for Chesham & Amersham, and in May 2017 she was elected Liberal Democrat councillor for the Wheatley Division of Oxfordshire.

Kirsten wants a fairer, more just society for all, where each person can be free and enabled to pursue their own dreams and aspirations without discrimination or favouritism. Key policy areas for Kirsten are mental health; the integration of health and social care; children’s rights; the environment; and tackling inequality. Kirsten is a Mental Health First Aider and has worked with Norman Lamb MP in developing mental health legislative initiatives. She is currently working on policy development aimed at furthering equality in all parts of society.

She is elder and trustee of St Columba’s United Reformed Church, Oxford, and serves on the Executive of Liberal Democrat Christian Forum. She is keen on inter-faith work and developing inclusive models of belief. Kirsten is on the Board of Directors of The Fragile X Society, a national organisation which supports those with this inherited condition. The aims of the Society are to further awareness of Fragile X; support those living with Fragile X; and to fund research into Fragile X.

Kirsten has three daughters and enjoys walking, reading, art museums and family. She adds: “I have lived in Oxfordshire for over 20 years, and in Headington since 2004. Oxford is my home.”

Kirsten Johnson is on twitter as @DrKirstenJ. The LibDem website gives her email address as kirstenjohnson@outlook.com