News / Bristol Mayoral Elections 2020
Bristol Faith Manifesto launched ahead of 2020 mayoral election
Representatives of different faiths within Bristol have set out five aspirations they would like to work on with the city’s next mayor.
Incumbent mayor Marvin Rees joined Tory candidate Samuel Williams and Green challenger Sandy Hore-Ruthven at the launch of Bristol’s Faith Manifesto.
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The manifesto’s aims are:
- celebrating diversity
- building community
- strengthening families
- challenging poverty
- tackling climate change
The Faith Manifesto is a result of six months work by representatives of different faiths in the city including Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu and Jewish, with the group committed to working towards the shared goals with whoever is elected in May.
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Martin Gainsborough, chaplain to the bishop of Bristol, said: “We really wanted to draw attention to the role of faith communities in the city and the crucial work they are doing, much of it voluntarily.
“We also wanted to make the commitment that we will continue to serve our city in this way and outline that areas that we think need the most attention. We hope this manifesto is the start of a closer working relationship between the elected mayor, their council and faith groups.”
Zaheer Shabir from the Council of Bristol Mosques added: “It has been positive and encouraging to work with representatives of so many of Bristol faith groups to develop the manifesto.
“Although it took time, we learnt a lot from each other by listening and discussing our faiths, communities and priorities.
“The shared themes of diversity, community, family, poverty and climate change were important and meaningful to the whole group and we hope to see real improvements in all areas over the coming months and years by continuing to work together.”
Main photo by Sally Cordwell: Marvin Rees (left) talking to Carmen Carrol (middle), who is one of the group involved in developing the manifesto, and Sandra Meadows (right), CEO of Voscur
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