News / Politics
Marvin Rees to run to become MP for Bristol North East
Marvin Rees said he will “throw his hat into the ring” to be in the running to become the city’s fifth member of parliament for new constituency Bristol North East.
Speaking on BBC Radio Bristol, the current Bristol mayor said: “I do feel that there’s a little bit more in my political journey.”
Rees’ term as mayor comes to an end in 2024 at the same time the mayoral system of governance will be replaced by a committee system.
is needed now More than ever
His announcement comes as the political map of Bristol, which currently has four parliamentary constituencies and four (Labour) MPs, and the surrounding area is to be completely redrawn, seeing the creation of a new Bristol North East constituency.
Bristol North East is likely to become one of ten new constituencies and is unusually made up of wards within two neighbouring local authorities, including Lockleaze, Eastville and Hillfields within Bristol City Council, and Staple Hill and Mangotsfield in South Glos.
Once the new Bristol North East constituency is created, parties will need to choose prospective candidates for the next general election – which will include Rees.
The new seat Bristol North East crosses into South Gloucestershire south of the M4 and it gains from Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields from Bristol East; Lockleaze from Bristol North West; and Staple Hill, New Cheltenham, Kingswood and Woodstock from Kingswood – map: Boundary Commission
Interviewing the mayor on air on Thursday morning, BBC presenter John Darvall asked: “There will be a fifth constituency which will need an MP. Obviously you’re going to be un-busy from May 2024… Are you going to run?”
Rees replied: “The first point is there’s a lot on here at the moment so I am not rolling around at night plotting and scheming because there is a budget to get through and we are still trying to land so much in my time as mayor.
“But I will admit, after talking to my family, I do feel that there’s a little bit more in my political journey and if there’s a opportunity to step into politics in parliament and do something for Bristol and do something for the country and the world then if people choose me, yeah, I’ll throw my hat in the ring.
He added: “This is my city and it’s been interesting how that’s played itself out because I wouldn’t have run around the country, that’s not what its about.
“For me, it’s about politics in Bristol, and the fact that the boundary review does create a space in Bristol, a platform in Bristol, to do more work with Bristol was quite an interesting alignment of events.”
Main photo: Marvin Rees
Read next:
- Claire Hazlegrove is Labour candidate for Filton and Bradley Stoke
- Rees: ‘We need to work together to make sure Bristol grows well’
- Bristol is a step closer to getting a fifth MP
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