Labour party announce Marvin Rees as mayoral candidate
LABOUR have picked Marvin Rees to be the party's candidate in the race to become Bristol's first elected mayor.
The 40-year-old, from Easton, was the only one of five hopefuls for the nomination not to have held elected office – but saw off competition from party heavyweights on the city council and former MP Dan Norris to win the backing of members.
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Marvin Rees
Mr Rees is now likely to be the bookies' favourite to win the race to fill the new role, which will be decided in an election on November 15.
Mr Rees said it "felt great" to be declared Labour's candidate from the five-strong shortlist.
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He said: "It's amazing to get the endorsement of the party across the city and to get that vote of confidence. I wouldn't have put my name forward if I didn't have something to offer the city or the party. I was up against four fantastic candidates who have been around and done a lot of great stuff in city politics and national politics."
Mr Rees works as a programme manager in public health for the NHS and has worked as a BBC Radio reporter, political campaigner and charity coordinator.
Last week, he was given the backing of the country's biggest union, Unite, which said he "stood out from an impressive field of candidates as the person best placed to represent working people and their families".
In the party ballot, he clinched the vote by defeating Helen Holland and Peter Hammond, the former and current leaders of the party's group on the city council, former Wansdyke MP Dan Norris and former city councillor Kelvin Blake.
Speaking after his selection was announced last night Mr Rees said that, if he were elected, he would look to introduce a "living wage", promote apprenticeships and engage with the electorate to create a clear vision for the city.
Mr Rees said: "I want to work to unleash the potential of the city and bring a clear vision for what we want to be and where we want to go.
"I want to refresh local democracy. There was a low turnout for the elected mayor referendum - local democracy needs a shot in the arm."
Mr Rees said most candidates would "huddle around" flagship issues including transport, education, housing and the city's economy.
But he said engaging with the public would be crucial to the formation of his detailed policies.
Mr Rees said: "From transport to housing to mental health, the people have to have play a part in developing the decisions. If you don't do that, you will fall into the same trap of, 'Here's a policy and what's it got to do with anything?'"
Independent George Ferguson was the bookies' favourite in the first set of odds produced last month, when there were still five Labour contenders. But even then the party was rated odds-on to win the final vote, making Mr Rees the likely man to beat.
Other candidates already declared include former Tory councillor Spud Murphy and businessman Andy Thorn, both independents. The Conservative and Liberal Democrat candidates have yet to be selected.
Meanwhile, Bob Ashford, right, was yesterday named Labour's candidate for the role of Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner, beating business leader John Savage CBE in a ballot of members.
Henbury-born Mr Ashford was the director of strategy at the Youth Justice Board for England and Wales, working with ministers and senior officials in the criminal justice world and responsible for a budget of £40 million.
He said: "I'm thrilled. We've had one campaign within the party and are now looking forward to the campaign ahead."
Comments
by lolly60
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 11:08PM
“Tuesday, June 19 2012, 12:49PM
.
"@Lolly
Why are commenting on a Bristol subject. You have clearly stated in the past, that SGC has no relevance to Bristol and yet you feel the need to interfere with your pointless comments on matters that dont effect your county, apparently. You cant have it both ways....... you are either part of the City or your not?
@nljack
Anyone is allowed to make comments on this forum and yes i dont want to be part of Bristol because they cant do anything right and still live in the dark ages
Also some of my Family live in Bristol so in a round about way it does effect me what ges on .
You always seem to be nasty when you dont like a comment on here.”
by dicktator
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 1:02PM
“Surely we need a hard nosed focussed commercial approach from our new Mayor? Getting value for money from the staff, the Council's suppliers and contractors, and not getting carried away with idealistic political agendas is what most Council Tax payers want.
Is any political party's candidate therefore the right man or woman to run this multi million pound business?”
by nljack
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 12:49PM
“@Lolly
Why are commenting on a Bristol subject. You have clearly stated in the past, that SGC has no relevance to Bristol and yet you feel the need to interfere with your pointless comments on matters that dont effect your county, apparently. You cant have it both ways....... you are either part of the City or your not?
To anyone......by the way, which candidate supports the idea of getting rid of SGC?”
by Stagnate
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 11:48AM
“At the risk of having this commented deleted again I shall try again.
This is just another example of political parties trying to 'shoe in' their chosen candidate. If any candidate from any political party is elected to the post then it will seriously undermine the political neutralness of the Police.
This doesn't only apply in the Avon and Somerset area but nationwide.
The Police are supposed to be apolitical, a position that has already been put at risk by Thatcher and her handling of the miners' strike. If a political candidate is elected then their party will feel that they have the right to dictate how Policing is carried out for the benefit of their particular party.
Some may say that that is hogwash but look at how party politics, both nationally and locally, have affected the running of or country and cities.”
by Joke_Bristol
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:56AM
“@nigeburr
'Over the years Marvin Rees has worked hard to help the underprivileged and the downtrodden, by getting into places of some influence and then building bridges into and for the communities he has championed.'
Give an example of this.
'His heart is large and his expectations are high for our city.'
What are they?
'It makes a change to have someone who I know has spent many years with the people of this city and not shying away from his roots, but has upheld his background and stood with people who would or have been otherwise marginalised by career politicians.'
How has he done this?
'Marvin has achieved so much.'
Give an example.
He is the only person to have got the top people in many sectors together and around the table to start the process of interlinking all services across the area.'
Any evidence of this and what it actually achieved?
'Having him as Mayor will only increase the potential of further development for Bristol and to allow the creativity and business potential to evolve too.'
How?
The huge advantage for Bristol is that he does give a genuine damn about the people of this city, and has always been in positions to help influence the lives for the better of others, not himself.'
Has he? The wooly positions named in the article? How has he helped influence these things and what were they?”
by green_man
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:53AM
“@ Trymriverman - "...He sounds like a safe, low ranking, run of the mill politician and one even without a potentially useful specific issue he's known to obsess about and push..."
Agreed - though he does have the advantage of not being Peter Hammond, Helen Holland, Dan Norris or Kelvin Blake!! Bristol Labour members thought so much of their current leader, former leader, a former MP and former councillor that they rejected them. I've seen Marvin Rees is a few debates and he comes across quite personably, but has no gravitas and has so far expressed little or no vision and policies.”
by Jonnyfandango
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:44AM
“@ nigeburr
Is that you Marvin?”
by marmeliser
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:31AM
“he sounds a decent chap but what does he stand FOR? it's all a bit wooly. i see no 'vision' at all
and the unite statement annoys me with that dreaded 'hard working families' nonsense again. a mayor - like any other politician - also has to represent the UNemployed, single people, single parents, gays, pensioners, the sick - all sections of society in other words
my vote is still up for grabs, and, boy, do i need to be CONVINCED”
by DavidBristol
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 10:12AM
“Lolly - thought you lived in SG and adamantly didn't want anything to do with Bristol's mayor? PS - the capslock key is in the middle on the left.”
by DennisB2012
Tuesday, June 19 2012, 9:17AM
“This selection by local Labour Party members speaks volumes about the quality of existing or past Labour Party representatives on Bristol City Council and in Westminster. They selected someone who is virtually unknown - except by the Unite Union.
Is this an indication of how little even Labour Party members in Bristol think of their elected politicians (both when they were in power and when they should have been an effective opposition).
But I think many people will see it as even more worrying that this candidate is being "backed" (or should that be "controlled") by a union.
When the actual campaign starts, I hope the Post will not be biased in his favour because he has been a "reporter" - even if for the BBC and not themselves.”