Mayor Election 2016 / News
Labour mayor candidates battle for support
Marvin Rees has secured the backing of three major unions and veteran civil rights campaigner Paul Stephenson in his bid to be selected by Labour to run for mayor again.
The 2012 candidate, who lost to George Ferguson, has been endorsed by the CWU, GMB and USDAW unions as well as former Bristol MP Valerie Davey.
Meanwhile, Mark Bradshaw, who is running against Rees in a two-horse race, has been backed by current Bristol West MP Thangam Debbonaire.
The former transport boss for the city who was sacked from Ferguson’s cabinet is also believed to have gained the backing of more than half of the city’s councillors.
In an election which is proving difficult to call, one candidate will be selected by Labour to run for mayor in a ballot by some 2,000 members taking place this September.
The three unions pulled together to back Rees earlier this week, with Nick Ireland, regional secretary of USDAW saying Rees is “the clear choice for workers”.
Kevin Beazer, south west regional secretary of CWU, added: “He is the only candidate who doesn’t represent the old talking shops of Bristol politics and represents a city wide leadership, not a council chamber candidate.”
Paul Stephenson, who led the 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott, praised Rees’ “exceptional leadership abilities”.
Valerie Davey, former Bristol West MP said she believes Rees “has a clear idea of what needs to change in Bristol, including establishing the living wage, more affordable housing and increasing democratic accountability”.
But current Bristol West MP Debbonaire backed Bradshaw, praising his track record and “devotion” to the city.
She said he had helped bring down bus prices and has been instrumental in working out a way of introducing Oyster-style smart cards into Bristol transport.
She added: “We’re going to be standing 70 councillors across Bristol and we need a Mayoral candidate that will knock on doors with council candidates and MPs and answer concerns on doorsteps across the city.”
Debbonaire’s backing follows the endorsement of Bradshaw by transport campaigner Dan Farr, who triggered the Make Fares Fair campaign which eventually led to First Bus dropping ticket prices.
Writing on Bristol24/7 he said Bradshaw was the man to challenge Frist Bus’ monopoly in Bristol.
Members of the Brisotl Labour party will be mailed ballot papers on August 14-15 and the ballot closes at 12pm on September 10, with the winner announced shortly after.
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