Petition Title:

Remove Gerard Oxford from the Honorary Position of Alderman of Colchester

Petition Description:

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Colchester, call for the immediate removal of Gerard Oxford from the honorary and civic position of Alderman of Colchester.

This petition has been created in response to comments attributed to Mr. Oxford in the Colchester Gazette on July 11, 2025, where he was reported to have said that a facility similar to "Auschwitz, minus the ovens" is needed to tackle certain societal issues.

Such a statement, invoking the name of a Nazi concentration and extermination camp where over a million people were systematically murdered, is abhorrent and has no place in public or private discourse. To suggest any form of camp modelled on a site of genocide is profoundly offensive and shows a shocking lack of judgment and humanity.

These inhumane views do not reflect the values of our diverse, welcoming, and historic city. The honorary title of Alderman is bestowed upon individuals in recognition of their eminent service to the community. The expression of such sentiments fundamentally undermines the integrity of this title and the spirit of Colchester itself.

By signing this petition, we are sending a clear message: the residents of Colchester will not tolerate such rhetoric from those who hold a position of civic honour. We urge Colchester City Council to take swift action, listen to the community's outrage, and remove Gerard Oxford from his role as an Alderman.