Marvin Rees awarded honorary degree by Swansea University |

Comments

Oarsman-3337

Friday Aug 4, 2023 - 3:37pm

It would be good if Marvin's publicity machine could send all Bristolians a list of his “outstanding accomplishments and contributions to society”. All i know about are his nefarious deals with property developers to build on every corner of Bristol, his ridiculous undeground proposal and the way he has saved us the expense of future mayors.

NanaBanana-8851

Monday Jul 31, 2023 - 11:47am

So his degree was from Swansea? That's strange because his LInkedin entry claims that he went to Harvard University. No mention of Swansea

karentg-5332

Sunday Jul 30, 2023 - 1:07pm

What's he going to be given in recognition of single handedly turning people's opinion on having a mayor run our city..?

JoeBenson-6715

Sunday Jul 30, 2023 - 1:22am

I see this person as more, a 'marxist' than someone British. This, I find challenging.

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Oarsman-3337

Friday Aug 4, 2023 - 3:37pm

I assume this is sarcasm? He is about as avaricious a capitalist as you can find

Moderation-4297

Saturday Jul 29, 2023 - 11:31am

People are missing the context here. Universities are always trying to think up someone to give an honorary doctorate to, because they need a list of honorary doctorates every single year for the graduation ceremonies. Giving one to a Swansea alumnus would have been a no-brainer for Swansea. So this is very different than the shortlisting for the World Mayor Prize, which really is a feather in Rees' cap.

Janehop-4456

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 1:24pm

Really? Did anyone consult Bristol citizens?

Aliaa-580

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 12:04pm

Where does the money come from for Rees' public relation machine?

sunnyjayjay-1087

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 10:07am

This man is an unrepentant self-publicist and ego-maniac. His only legacy will have been to destroy the mayoral system in Bristol.

BowLeggedChicken-2137

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 9:25am

Looks like he's given up on Bristol North East and is pitching for Swansea. They're welcome to him.

Talbothill-3116

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 9:08am

Typical... It had to be in the "Land of Drakeford". Marvellous Marvin calls it a "Special Place", more like a "Special Place for Special People!" Is the Honorary Degree for athro mwd cymhwysol?

Clarkey-1802

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 9:01am

The Globalist clique promotes mediocre puppets who are incapable of independent thinking like Mark Drakeford. These people are being found out and thrown out.

Calculus-2431

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 8:50am

However unpopular Rees is in Bristol, his achievements are significant, refecting well on him and his University, and raising awareness of Bristol at least in mayoral circles. And possibly China. Rees has an excellent case for an honorary degree. At the same time, Rees may be the only possible labour candidate who could fail to win the new Bristol North East constituency for labour. Of course he is better known and more experienced than the other candidates (sez Unite), but that doesn't make him the best choice.

Stephen-1999-3272

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 8:09am

"I know journalism is pared to the bone but B24/7, don't just regurgitate press releases you receive. You come across like you're actively campaigning for him to be an MP." Yes! At least on a story like this, released so close to the 'Primary' vote this weekend of Labour members in the new Bristol North East constituency, you should acknowledge that that event is happening and that Rees is one of 3 candidates being chosen and give a brief bio of the other 2 candidates. Rees has been a disaster for the city - most of his 'accomplishments' listed by Swansea are all talk, no delivery and it's a hostile bully towards anyone who disagrees with him. The stitch-up over the Temple Arena plan in particular is something people need to remember. Where's the Filton Arena? They've not even started construction yet and I expect next summer, after Rees has safely vacating the Mayor role and the local councils have already completed all the travel improvements in the region to support the Arena, YTL will announce that it's not actually economical anymore and they're not going ahead. The Temple Arena project would've delivered already.

Replies to this comment

pigletstupor-6145

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 11:35am

Do you really think 24/7 come across as actively campaigning for Marvin Rees? All they do is lay out the facts and do a very good job in that respect - they have to maintain their independence don't forget.

SusieP-7371

Saturday Jul 29, 2023 - 12:26pm

The Council don’t build Arenas. You may have wanted an arena at Temple Meads, I may have wanted an arena at Temple Meads, Marvin & George may have wanted an arena at Temple Meads – but none of those who wanted it actually build arenas. Despite offering a subsidy of more than £120m, approval for an 8-story car park and a proposal to pay 50% of any operating losses, the private sector did not want to build an arena on that site. When you say that the Temple Meads project would have delivered already, you have omitted to mention that it would have delivered a cost to the city of 50% of the operating losses through the pandemic when such venues were not in use - even today, attendances remain below pre-pandemic levels.

DefiniteTroll-1293

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 7:53am

And let's not forget his insane underground transit system plan. Can we have an MP who will do something for normal people rather than someone who's determined to burnish their "legacy" with white elephant projects?

DefiniteTroll-1293

Friday Jul 28, 2023 - 7:47am

Amazing how all these places outside of Bristol think he's doing great. People living Bristol became so disillusioned with his actions and his behaviour we voted to get rid of his job completely. Achievements include ruining Bristol's skyline with tower blocks over Castle park, cancelling a shovel ready city centre arena and tying the city into a golden handcuffs deal with L&G to create more office space the city doesn't need. And let's not forget the questionable relationship with the company he awarded a contract to build an accessible only by car out of town arena to. Then there's the unwillingness to include the party with the largest number of councillors in decision making, the demeaning and belittling discourse he uses when his ideologies are challenged, the planning promises he made for re-election that he reneged on and couldn't have done anything about anyway. His PR team are clearly working hard on his behalf, both with bodies that can buff his reputation, and in pumping out the positive press releases ahead of the selection of MP candidates to ensure he gets to fulfill his ambition. I know journalism is pared to the bone but B24/7, don't just regurgitate press releases you receive. You come across like you're actively campaigning for him to be an MP.

Replies to this comment

SusieP-7371

Saturday Jul 29, 2023 - 12:42pm

It's worth remembering that the good people of Bristol have had two opportunities to vote for or against Marvin Rees - in 2016 and 2021. On both occasions he won the ballot by a significant majority, though I didn't vote for him. I presume that if the people of Bristol thought Marvin was so bad they wouldn't have re-elected him as recently as 2021 - or do you claim that the judgement of tens of thousands of the good people of Bristol isn't valid.

GPLDub-8835

Thursday Jul 27, 2023 - 6:36pm

Why does Swansea University's understanding of Rees' achievements differ so wildly from those of the city he's mayor of? They must have a really low bar on contributions to society over in that there Wales.