‘I’m losing my political virginity’

Two years ago my wife and I moved back to Bristol after living in France for 12 years. It was astonishing to see the change that had taken place between the time we left and returned – most of this I put down to our current mayor.

During our time in France we lived in Montpellier, a city that isn’t dissimilar to Bristol. However, there was one major difference to the Bristol I had left in the 90s, a city where there was no clear visible leadership and little or nothing got done.

In Montpellier they had strong city leadership delivered by a directly elected mayor. His name was George Freche. He spent many years leading Montpellier and during this period delivered an arena, four tram routes, transformed infrastructure in the city, built a concert hall and provided housing to the French returning from Algeria.  

Freche had one clear agenda and that was to promote and develop Montpellier, his city. He was not interested in party politics but instead focused on progress, and at times this did result in expulsion by his party a number of times.

However, in Montpellier there was widespread recognition of the fact he was delivering a vision. This is why we accepted that there would be initial disruption when it comes to delivering significant infrastructure projects. We had all forgotten about the disruption when the tram lines were built, the arena and concert hall opened their doors and the way our city moved and ran fundamentally changed. 

It was such a surprise to me after experiencing decades of stagnation during my 10 years in Bristol in the 80s. A reputation of sloth that formerly plagued this city but now, under George Ferguson, this is clearly no longer true. 

I tell you this story as a warning to everyone in our great city – don’t put our progress and momentum at risk by electing a Westminster political puppet. The other major candidates don’t seem to have much of a vision for Bristol but a London-developed ideology that will not help our city.

Let’s not define George by RPZ and 20mph, frustrating from time to time I know, but instead focus on the fact he is the leader who is building the arena, transformed local politics, boosted our economy, finally getting around to fixing our terrible transport infrastructure and put Bristol on the map.

What is more – with our terrible air pollution killing around 200 Bristolians a year – do we want more and faster cars in this city? Does anyone remember our old city leaders? I don’t. 

Throughout my life I have been exposed to politics, initially during my time as editor of Any Questions. It was incredibly frustrating because I often found myself agreeing with different aspects of what each political party said.

This usually occurred during conversations at the pre-show dinner, when they were a bit more open and sensible. In spite of my monk-like commitment to remain neutral, I still would have found it difficult to have one political partner to whom I could be truly faithful.

It was depressing when the show started because the politicians reverted to the same old politicking and reciting buzzwords from their party central setting aside their principles and the good sense they dare not share in public. 

In Bristol, we genuinely have someone leading the city who is truly independent. He is not politically correct, does not toe a political line and most certainly isn’t well polished like many of the party political lot. It certainly gets him into trouble on occasion but I for one would not have it any other way.

Bristol should be a city free of political party and London domination and I see just one person who is capable of delivering this, a chap who has achieved more in four years than the party politicians who spent decades in pointless political scraps and failing our city. George has spent his entire life working with and for Bristol. I want him to have four more years to continue getting things done.

Yep, so there, the BBC shackles are off and my political virginity lost. It feels good!

Robin Hicks is a former editor of BBC’s Any Questions and the current chairman of Avon Valley Heritage Railway Trust

Bristol24/7 will publish opinion pieces from supporters of all those standing for mayor. Want to get something off your chest? Email [email protected]

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