Mayor candidate George Ferguson lays out vision for safer, caring Bristol
Independent mayoral candidate George Ferguson has today laid out his seven-point vision of a safer, caring and healthy Bristol.
Vowing not to make “cynical pledges” or “irresponsible” promises in the shape of a manifesto, Mr Ferguson has instead detailed his priorities for the city.
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George Ferguson has today laid out his seven-point vision for Bristol
Getting Bristol moving and working are first on the candidate’s list, followed by “a healthy and caring City”; “a democratic Bristol”; “making Bristol great”; “vibrant Bristol” and “a safer Bristol”.
Explaining the idea behind his “magnificent seven”, Mr Ferguson told This is Bristol: “I want people to know what I stand for. I’ve distanced it from being a manifesto because I think they have been devalued and tend to be seen as tomorrow’s broken promises.
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“I will expand on it in speeches, at hustings and via video links. I will be explaining what I mean by this seven-point vision.
“We need to shake up the way we do democracy in Bristol. We need a more open form of government.”
Asked whether his seven-point vision could be conceived as vague, Mr Ferguson said: “I will put flesh on it but what I will not do is make these cynical pledges that we’ve too often seen by political parties that give hope to people that is dashed when they come into office.
“It’s aspirational. I am not going to make funding commitments that I cannot achieve.”
The independent candidate added: “I have made some very specific pledges, such as an Arena for Bristol, and that will be delivered.
“Whether it can be achieved in the first term remains to be seen, but I can see how this can be delivered.
“You will find specific things, so I won’t accept that it is vague.”
Expanding on his plans, Mr Ferguson said within the first few weeks of being elected he would bring in two youth mayors – one male and one female - to “champion the needs” of young people in the city.
“That would be fantastic education for them but it also gives the youth of the city a way of getting their voice heard,” he said.
But, the candidate added: “I’m not going to make silly promises about what the price of transport will be because it’s irresponsible and they will be breaking their promises a few years down the line.”
Comments
by TomArnott
Friday, October 05 2012, 4:54PM
“In other words the easiest way not too break promises is not to make promises!”
by katachua
Saturday, September 29 2012, 8:38PM
“@LongJohnson
"George is being relatively (to the other twonks) astute by keeping his powder dry for the time being, then slowly fleshing it out as the vote gets nearer."
I THINK I know what you mean, but isn't the metaphor just a trifle mixed?”
by LongJohnson
Saturday, September 29 2012, 7:18PM
“George is being relatively (to the other twonks) astute by keeping his powder dry for the time being, then slowly fleshing it out as the vote gets nearer.”
by green_man
Saturday, September 29 2012, 6:47PM
“@nogbutt and matic_113 - I agree with your assessments of George Ferguson on the whole but he does need to expand a lot on his seven priorities. When you look at the expanded document on his website there is somewhat more detail but much of what is said is very generalised stuff. Green candidate aside, George Ferguson is the candidate who appreciates economic, social and environmental sustainability challenges most, so he's likely to get my second preference vote.”
by matic_113
Saturday, September 29 2012, 4:49PM
“I think he has got to be the best of the bunch all considered. He does care very passionately about Bristol and I believe he is the type of person who will get things actually done. He has experience of delivering big complex infrastructure projects. I'm sure he would be able to bring lots to our major projects.”
by nogbutt
Saturday, September 29 2012, 12:55PM
“i'm not sure if it's been reported here, but the bbc have him "pledging" to scrap the rapid transit (all or some of, i can't see exactly) and sunday parking charges. he is also putting some momentum into the arena cause:
http://tinyurl.com/9o4rjhy
and he's independent in that he's not answerable to the financial or political interests of any party (as far as i can see).”
by Trymriverman
Saturday, September 29 2012, 10:26AM
“Currently George would get my vote and I don't give a jot about his past political affiliations – the LibDems have a candidate and it's not him. I also think it's sensible not to be too tied down by specifics, when circumstances over the next 5 years will be so uncertain and a flexible approach will be needed. I think his opposition to expansion at Lulsgate though is a big negative. Yes, I know it would be outside the jurisdiction of the elected Mayor but certainly not outside the zone of influence. Not just Bristolians but the population in the S.West have to get around the globe to do business and tourists and business people have to get to Bristol, if Bristol is going to be on the map and open for business. Bristol hasn't been famous for getting things done for a while but has been famous for having aspirations that tend to peter out, so Bristolians no-longer take the talk seriously – the airport is already quite successful by out of London standards and has been an exception to this, with more ambitious plans for the future. Also, there is no guarantee that the LHR will remain as the main UK international hub going into the future – this even disregarding that it isn't so convenient for people in the S.West to get to currently anyway. As for environmental issues – I'll bet air transport won't disappear in the future but I'll bet they will overcome the environmental issues with technological advances.”
by SlotBoy
Friday, September 28 2012, 10:17PM
“The Elected Mayor will Ultimately still be accountable to the Council. He or she will be able to appoint 11 deputy Mayors who of course will still be accountable within the vast organisation. There is very little chance of a despot getting in the mix. Providing the Right Candidate works with and for the Council and it's people through any local organisation that wants to get in at top level, Bristol should benefit from the appointment.
Rich fisher
Independent”
by philip87
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:40PM
“Im not sure how indpependent he really is, he was a lib dem until June”
by bris28
Friday, September 28 2012, 5:31PM
“Mr. Ferguson is no fool. Certainly knows how to write an eye-catching Press Release which will grab the headlines. Rather cleverly he doesn't promise much, He said on Radio Bristol that he will scrap some current transport scheme but what he doesn't tell you is the cost of tearing up contracts that hasve already been signed. George is hoping voters won't think about things like thast but just accept the headlines .
I don't see who I can vote for,if anybody, because I don't know what powers this so-called Mayoral Supremo will have. Do the candidates know? I doubt if they care -just want the prestige of the title.
Why isn't the media giving as much space to the election of a police commissioner? Isn't this just as important?”