Created in the 2023 boundary review, replacing Henley.
Votes less often than 92% of MPs.
Freddie van Mierlo
Liberal DemocratsFreddie van Mierlo is the Liberal Democrat MP for Henley and Thame, and has been an MP continually since 4 July 2024.
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Sign up freeCoverage of Henley and Thame has been mixed for Freddie across 40 recent articles.
Positive coverage
“TikTok, Instagram, X and Google bosses torn apart and given urgent warning” — Mirror
“Glow Ride lights up Thame in push for greenway to Haddenham” — Oxfordshire Herald Series
A new constituency created in the 2023 boundary review. Won by LD in its first election in 2024. Covers Henley-on-Thames, Thame and Chinnor. Population 97,847, notably older (median age 46 vs 41 nationally). Recorded crime is 58% below the national average.
New Store For Thame High Street - Introducing Stamp
The Bucks Herald · 9 Apr 2026
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Sign up freeMedian Income▼
£36,200
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Mean Income▼
£61,400
per year (HMRC 2022-23)
Businesses▼
5,920
VAT/PAYE registered (ONS 2024)
Schools▼
59
39 primary, 6 secondary, 14 other
Total Income Tax▼
£826m
from 57,000 taxpayers
Median Tax▼
£4,000
per taxpayer / year
Mean Tax
£14,600
per taxpayer / year
Source: HMRC Survey of Personal Incomes, tax year 2022-23. Allocated by taxpayer residence. Covers income tax only — excludes NI, VAT, and capital gains. Sample-based estimate (~8% confidence interval).
Attainment 8▼
49.9
average score (DfE)
GCSE Pass Rate▼
72.4%
5+ GCSEs 9-4 (DfE)
1 large town, 5 towns, 12 villages, rural areas — 95,676 total population
Source: ONS Built-Up Areas (Census 2021) + data.police.uk — crime rates are per 1,000 population (last 3 months)
Source: data.police.uk — street-level crime data aggregated from LSOA to constituency
23 councillors across 15 wards · Last elections: May 2023
| Ward | Party | Councillor | Elected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benson Crowmarsh | Green Party of England and Wales | Andrea Jane Powell | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Sue Cooper | May 2023 | |
| Berinsfield | Green Party of England and Wales | Robin Bennett | May 2023 |
| Chalgrove | Liberal Democrats | David Graham Turner | May 2023 |
| Chinnor | Green Party of England and Wales | Ali Gordon-Creed | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Ed Sadler | May 2023 | |
| Forest Hill Holton | Liberal Democrats | Tim Bearder | May 2023 |
| Garsington Horspath | Liberal Democrats | Sam Edward James-Lawrie | May 2023 |
| Goring | Liberal Democrats | Maggie Filipova-Rivers | May 2023 |
| Haseley Brook | Liberal Democrats | Georgina Heritage | May 2023 |
| Henley On Thames | Henley Residents Group | Kellie Louise Hinton | May 2023 |
| Henley Residents Group | Ken Arlett | May 2023 | |
| Henley Residents Group | Stefan Gawrysiak | May 2023 | |
| Kidmore End Whitchurch | Green Party of England and Wales | Peter Hugh Dragonetti | May 2023 |
| Sonning Common | Liberal Democrats | Leigh Michael Rawlins | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Mike Giles | May 2023 | |
| Thame | Liberal Democrats | David William Bretherton | May 2023 |
| Liberal Democrats | Kate Michelle Gregory | May 2023 | |
| Liberal Democrats | Pieter-Paul Barker | May 2023 | |
| Watlington | Liberal Democrats | Freddie Van Mierlo | May 2023 |
| Wheatley | Liberal Democrats | Alexandrine Arielle Theodora Kantor | May 2023 |
| Woodcote Rotherfield | Green Party of England and Wales | James Welch Norman | May 2023 |
| Green Party of England and Wales | Jo Robb | May 2023 |
Source: DCLEAPIL v1.0 by Jason Leman, LEAP (Andrew Teale) & Democracy Club. CC BY-SA 4.0. Data last refreshed: 1 Apr 2026.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| LD | 23,904 | 45.0% | |
| Con | 17,637 | 33.2% | |
| Ref | 5,213 | 9.8% | |
| Lab | 3,574 | 6.7% | |
| Green | 2,008 | 3.8% | |
| Ind | 515 | 1.0% | |
| Ind | 306 | 0.6% |
Freddie van Mierlo has not appeared in national political news coverage tracked by our system. This is common for backbench MPs who focus on constituency-level work rather than national policy debates.
16 articles hidden as not sufficiently relevant to this constituency
A new Stamp store (backed by independent retailer UOE) is opening on Thame High Street on 16th April 2026, bringing significant investment to modernise the space while retaining the existing retail team. The store will feature local suppliers, artisan products, and a community space upstairs for events and workshops, representing a vote of confidence in the high street's viability.
Thame Farmers Auction Mart has been granted planning permission to relocate the 800-year-old Thame cattle market from the town centre to a new site near Christmas Hill Business Park over 12-18 months. The move aims to secure the market's future, reduce congestion and improve facilities, though locals have mixed reactions about losing the historic town-centre presence.
A rare, inscribed first-edition copy of Martin Luther King's memoir 'Stride Toward Freedom' was discovered in an Oxfam Bookshop in Thame and sold at auction for £2,560. The book, thought to be an author's presentation copy from 1958 with a handwritten inscription from King himself, was identified by volunteers and preserved through the auction process.
Thame Country Fair 2026 took place on Easter Sunday and Monday at the town's showground, featuring animal demonstrations, stunt displays, races, crafts, food vendors, and children's entertainment. The event is Oxfordshire's largest farming-themed showcase and attracted visitors for various attractions including falconry, horse-boarding, motorbike stunts, and live music.
Cuttlebrook Hall, a care home in Thame within the Henley and Thame constituency, has been awarded an 'outstanding' rating by the Care Quality Commission following an inspection in February. The home was praised for exceptional leadership, person-centred care, and strong staff support for residents' independence and dignity.
Thame Farmers Auction Mart has received planning permission from South Oxfordshire District Council to relocate from its historic North Street site to a new purpose-built facility near Christmas Hill Business Park. The move, expected to take 12-18 months, will address congestion and noise concerns while securing the future of this important livestock trading hub that has operated in various forms since the Middle Ages.
Thame Farmers Auction Mart has been granted planning permission to relocate from the town centre to a new out-of-town site near Christmas Hill Business Park, with the move expected within 18 months. The relocation will allow the livestock market to expand operations, increase facilities for buyers and sellers, and reduce congestion and noise issues in the town centre.
Jeremy Clarkson, who lives in Oxfordshire near the Henley and Thame constituency, discusses his mortality planning following recent health concerns and reflects on the impact of the new 20% inheritance tax on farms. The article includes perspectives from local farmers including Luke Hawes from near Thame, who explain how the policy threatens family farming businesses in the region.
Benson Weir has reopened to walkers after a four-year closure for essential safety and structural repairs by the Environment Agency. The new walkway is wider (1.5m vs 0.9m), includes improved fish and eel passage infrastructure, and incorporates upgraded guarding systems to prevent future damage.
A rare first-edition book by Martin Luther King Jr., inscribed by the author, was discovered among donations at the Oxfam Bookshop in Thame and sold at auction for £2,560. The discovery highlights the value of items that pass through charity shops and the importance of careful inspection by volunteers.
Suburban areas in the Reading region, including Caversham and Twyford, are experiencing record population growth with year-on-year increases of 42-51%, driven by demand for village amenities combined with transport links and proximity to London. This trend reflects broader shifts in housing demand away from central urban areas toward more spacious, residential suburbs.
A caravan parked in a layby on the A418 near Wheatley (within Henley and Thame constituency) was destroyed in a suspected arson attack on 30 March 2026. Police are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage to help investigate the incident.
Thames Valley Police launched an investigation into a theft at a Boots store on Thame High Street on February 22, where a man and woman allegedly stole products and pushed a member of the public. The force is appealing for public help in identifying suspects via CCTV footage.
A suspected shoplifting incident at Boots on Thame High Street on February 22 resulted in an assault when a member of the public was allegedly knocked over by the suspects. Thames Valley Police has released CCTV images and is appealing for information to identify the individuals involved.
South Oxfordshire District Council is launching the Everyone Active grant scheme offering up to £1,000 per project to community groups aiming to boost physical activity and mental wellbeing. The scheme, opening March 30, has £50,000 available and supports eligible groups including schools, sports clubs, and community organisations across the district.
Former Home Secretary Alan Johnson is performing a live show at The Kenton Theatre in Henley-on-Thames and Players Theatre in Thame, combining stories from his political career and love of The Beatles and Harold Wilson. The tour concludes in the constituency with performances in both key towns of Henley and Thame.
Developer Elivia Homes has submitted plans to South Oxfordshire District Council for 170 new homes on farmland south of Watlington Road in Benson. This is the third attempt to develop the same site, following rejected applications in 2016 and 2023, with local parish councillors expressing strong community opposition to further development.
Article details M40 and A34 road closures in Oxfordshire over the weekend of March 27-30 for maintenance and other works. Also mentions a Benson Parish Council sewer works closure on Hale Road lasting up to two months.
Chinnor RFC, based in Thame, has announced plans for a new 5,000-seater stadium to replace their current Kingsey Road ground, subject to planning permission. The project, funded by a family benefactor, represents a major infrastructure investment for the championship rugby club and is positioned as enhancing community facilities alongside competitive ambitions.
A proposed retirement village of 40 homes in Benson has been rejected at planning appeal for the third time, with the inspector finding it would harm the countryside setting, interrupt the village's green buffer, and fail to provide adequate sustainable transport access. The decision upholds Benson's Neighbourhood Plan, which has already exceeded its housing allocation and specifies development should be confined to the northern arch of the town.
Chinnor RFC, located in Thame within the Henley and Thame constituency, has announced plans for a new 5,000-seater covered stadium funded by a family benefactor. The club has also extended head coach Nick Easter's contract and appointed him to the Main Board, signalling significant infrastructure and sporting ambitions.
MPs grilled social media bosses over misinformation, deepfakes, and child safety, with Lib Dem MP Freddie van Mierlo highlighting TikTok's failure to remove instruction videos for creating deepfake images of young girls. The committee warned of potential new legislation if platforms do not improve their safety measures.
A Glow Ride event in Thame on March 20 supported the long-awaited Haddenham-Thame Greenway, a traffic-free cycling and walking route between the two towns. The event drew 30 riders and highlighted safety concerns for women and children using active travel routes; a petition with 3,600+ signatures backing the project has been presented to Oxfordshire County Council and 10 Downing Street with support from local MP Freddie van Mierlo.
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