Oxbridge Reapplication?

That's not what it says on the website ...

It is different for international applicants compared to UK applicants due to the differences in education system, with the UK specialising so early, it is often useful for international applicants to have undertaken some university study.
See: https://www.christs.cam.ac.uk/how-apply-1/university

They may say that online - I have heard different comments when speaking face-to-face with some colleges.

I think you are misremembering. This has been the standard advice at least since I was in my first year in 2021. Whilst applicants at another UK university need a very good reason and strong support from their current institution to successfully apply, applicants who are unable to meet Cambridge's entry requirements with their country's leaving certificates alone can apply with some university study. Multiple of my friends did the same thing.
If you search up the international requirements for a country whose leaving qualifications are not accepted on the page for international qualifications on this page (https://www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/international-students/international-entry-requirements), it says so quite clearly.
For example, for Panama, it says
"If you are studying for the Bachillerato, you are strongly recommended to undertake further study if you wish to apply to Cambridge. Applicants with the Bachillerato alone will not be competitive and are unlikely to be successful. Examples of qualifications that would be considered suitable for admission to Cambridge include:
> A Levels
> International Baccalaureate (IB)
> 5 or more Advanced Placement (AP) Tests at Score 5, and an overall grade of 5.0 in the Bachillerato
> possibly the first year of an undergraduate degree at a university outside the UK
"
The same thing is given for Nigeria, Russia, Thailand, Syria, etc. with their local qualifications.

This was said to me last year - I'm not going to name the person but it was someone high up in one of the colleges.

You may wish to tell them their information is incorrect, as well as correcting your own mental record. When working open days, we would frequently have to tell academic staff, including directors of study, about changes to entry requirements and differences for individuals with special circumstances. Foremost, it is recent university-wide guidance that should be trusted.

No, I'm not going to do that - this person can choose who they want - if they choose to prioritise UK applicants that is their business.
Colleges have their own preferences for who they want to offer places to.

I said nothing of whether or not a college may prefer UK applicants. I was talking about your assertion that international applicants could not apply after their first year of study at non-UK universities.
My goal was to correct the record for any potential applicants so I'm happy to conclude this conversation.

It’s my understanding that their restriction on students enrolled elsewhere has only applied to UK students, at least in recent memory.

It’s my understanding that their restriction on students enrolled elsewhere has only applied to UK students, at least in recent memory.

I emailed all the Cambridge colleges a few weeks ago asking and most of the ones who have replied so far are perfectly fine with people reapplying from a non-UK uni.

That is correct. Muttley is mistaken and does not wish to admit that. For any prospective applicants, trust the university website sources that I have linked.

So some aren't ok with it then?