Tory mayor candidates face selection vote

A city councillor and a GP surgery manager will go head to head in the bid to be selected as the Conservative Party’s mayoral candidate.

Charles Lucas, councillor for Clifton ward, will face up against Steve Smith, manager of Emersons Green Medical Centre.

The party is holding an open primary on Monday, September 14, where anyone – irrespective of their party affiliation – can register to vote for their preferred candidate.

The two have been chosen by the party’s selection panel who are inviting people to register for Monday’s event where a vote will take place.

Lucas was elected to the city council at the second attempt in 2013 and has acted as cabinet adviser for business change, arts, culture and sports.

He said: “My aim in standing to be Mayor is to make Bristol an even better place for the residents of the city. I love Bristol and want to see it thrive, whilst looking to improve our public transport provision, combat the housing crisis and particularly see an end to homelessness in the city. I am a serving school governor and will push for a continuing improvement in the provision of education in Bristol which has been neglected for so long.

“I also believe we need to drive the city forward by attracting investment in housing and jobs whilst maintaining a Conservative approach to budgetary prudence. The Council can help far more than it is by relaxing controls where necessary to make it easier for business to grow, expand and create jobs.”

Smith, 37, from Westbury-on-Trym, is a former chief executive of youth charity Young Bristol who now manages Emersons Green Medical Centre.

He is also a governor at Blaise Primary School in Henbury and a magistrate at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

Hi @Junior_Chamber, I’m a recent member seeking Con nomination for mayor in 2016. Pls could you share with members? pic.twitter.com/JhYpMMQdeI

— Steve Smith (@SteveSmith98) August 31, 2015

In his short biography submitted to the party, the father of two added: “As well as being a keen biker and driver (I recently passed the advanced driving tests on both), I am into good food, craft beer and real ales.

“I enjoy playing the piano badly, and apart from playing with my kids my favourite way to relax is with a cup of good coffee and the Telegraph cryptic crossword.”

The vote on Monday will be between the first 200 people who register to attend the open primary. Registration closes at midnight on Friday.

The Tories are likely to be outsiders in the bid to challenge George Ferguson.

Labour are likely to provide the most biggest threat to the current mayor. Marvin Rees, the candidate who lost to Ferguson last time around, is up against councillor Mark Bradshaw to be selected in vote between members.

The Green Party are also tipped to poll well, given their recent local election results.

They and the Lib Dems are yet to announce their selection process for their candidates.