News / Politics
Tony Dyer selected by Greens to run as mayor
Former parliamentary candidate Tony Dyer has been selected by the Green Party to run for mayor of Bristol.
Dyer, 51, an IT specialist, came fourth in the Bristol South constituency at the last General Election, behind Labour, Conservatives and Ukip.
He will stand for mayor as the party’s Bristol group have grown from two councillors at the time of the last mayoral election in 2012 to 14 councillors as of last may.
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Addressing members after his selection, he promised to address the lack of affordable housing, pledged to tackle transport “chaos” and said he would look at the “need to provide safe, secure and affordable energy” for the city.
Some have predicted the Green Party could be the surprise package in next May’s election following their recent surge. Dyer will be looking to improve on the party’s last mayoral election, where Daniella Radice came fifth.
Dyer was selected in a city-wide ballot between party members. It is understood that he was the only person from the party to put his name forward.
Addressing members at the party’s AGM, Dyer said: “I am proud to have been chosen to represent the Green Party in the upcoming mayoral election.
“We have come a long way since the last Mayoral election in 2012. Back then, we only had two councillors, now we have 14.
“Back then, we only had 200 members, now we have well over 2,000. Back then, we were lucky to get 12,000 votes in local elections, now we get three times as many.
“In the last few years we have established ourselves as the rising force in Bristol politics. 2016 offers us a real opportunity to further increase the number of Green councillors, and elect a Green mayor.”
He added: “We will be offering policies that are good for the local economy and jobs, good for people’s incomes, good for people’s health, and good for the planet.”
Incumbent mayor George Ferguson emerged as favourite to take a second term as bookmakers revealed early odds on the next election. He is likely to face stiff opposition from Marvin Rees who is running for Labour for the second time.
Read about all the Bristol mayor candidates here.