Angry scenes in City Hall as protesters confront mayor

Barton House residents have confronted Marvin Rees amid unsavoury scenes in City Hall.

Some residents were unhappy at being unable to ask questions at Tuesday’s full council meeting, with only one given permission to ask a question before they were told there was no time remaining.

The anger in the public gallery started when Stephen Williams, former Lib Dem minister in the coalition government and now standing once again to be a councillor, asked a question relating to roadworks

A member of the public began shouting at him about his involvement in building regulations in the run-up to the Grenfell Tower tragedy. (In his evidence to the inqiry, Williams admitted that he did not read the coroner’s letter recommending government action following a fatal fire in a block of flats eight years before 72 people died at Grenfell in 2017.)

Lord mayor Paul Goggin then paused the meeting for several minutes until the man in the public gallery had calmed down, but after the meeting was restarted the Barton House residents were told there was time for only one question from them, despite many submitting questions.

One Acorn member refused to hand the microphone back to a member of security staff, which begun an altercation, with Acorn members and Barton House residents then shouting at Rees and his administration.

Goggin again adjourned the meeting, with Acorn members approaching Rees in a corridor before following him back into the council chamber.

A group of Acorn members and council tenants then confronted Rees in the chamber, with Green councillors trying to defuse the situation.

Local democracy reporter Alex Seabrook said: “Understandably the residents are very frustrated but I’ve never seen scenes of intimidation like this in five years reporting on councils…

“Acorn say ’emotions were high’ but deny their members were intimidating, and add that they were shouted, insulted and shoved by council security staff.”

Green councillor for Lockleaze, Heather Mack, said that she believes Acorn “went too far and were intimidating the Mayor and others in the administration”.

She said: “I do not believe intimidation has a role in our politics. When aggression is aimed at the politicians it puts off anyone considered more vulnerable from being in politics, decreases diversity and ruins the tone of debate amongst politicians and between politicians and the public.

“I understand and share Barton Hill residents’ frustrations, and call on the mayor to prioritise meeting with Barton Hill residents and hear their concerns.”

Green councillors attempt to defuse the situation – photo Rob Browne

But Barton House resident and Acorn Bristol branch secretary, Shaban Ali, said that “no one was intimidated”.

He tweeted: “Democracy was being suppressed, @AcornWesley was again antiginised and trolled by Rees, then again, for a second time when we were leaving. But he wouldn’t take a question from residents.”

An Acorn statement claimed that Rees “escalated the situation by standing up, waving his arms around and making insulting remarks to individuals” adding that it was “very disappointing” to hear the confrontation described as “intimading” by Seabrook and Mack.

“As extensive video footage collected will show, there was no intimidation. Residents were understandably upset, as anyone would be having been treated with clear contempt by council leaders.”

Community union Acorn have come in for criticism from the administration since Barton House was evacuated on November 14, despite claiming to speak for many of the residents.

In an answer to a member forum question on Wednesday, Rees wrote: “Our experience shows just how important it is to engage with community leaders to prevent misinformation from exploitative campaign groups.

“One negative is the suspected leak of information to the press during the confidential all member briefing. We need to consider how we share information in future.

“We’ve been in constant communication with residents regarding the operation and this has been a success”

Marvin Rees at the full council meeting on Tuesday – photo: Rob Browne

Main photo: Rob Browne

Read next:

• Hundreds of residents evacuated from Bristol’s oldest tower block
• Rees: ‘I’m Bristol’s most transparent person’
• Council criticised for handling of tower block evacuation

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