Mayor Election 2016 / News
Race campaigner gets behind Rees
Veteran racial equality campaigner Paul Stephenson has thrown his weight behind Labour’s Bristol mayor candidate.
Stephenson, who was behind the famous Bristol Bus Boycott in the 1960s, said he felt Marvin Rees was the right candidate to move the city forward.
He said: “Having worked with Marvin Rees on a number of projects over the years, I believe he has the leadership vision and skills to take us forward as an aspirational, inclusive, fair and compassionate city. This is the kind of Bristol I would be most proud of.”
Stephenson added that he was unhappy that current mayor George Ferguson had used a picture of him in his campaign material.
“This may have given the impression to some that I was supporting mayor Ferguson’s campaign to be re-elected as Bristol mayor. This is not the case. I was asked and did not give permission for my picture to be used in this way.
He added: “So, for the sake of clarity, I’m backing Marvin.”
Ferguson said: “I have nothing but admiration for Paul, which was shown in the unstinting support I have given to ensuring that the Bristol Bus Boycott was more formally recognised as a key part of Bristol’s history.
“The picture was published as we celebrated the unveiling of a specially produced plaque within the city’s main bus station, in August last year, shortly before I made new teaching resources available to schools across the city.”
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