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| Marvin Rees: the Bristolian bearing the weight of Labour hopes | Marvin Rees: the Bristolian bearing the weight of Labour hopes |
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| Marvin Rees, Labour’s candidate for the Bristol mayoralty, is chatting to two mothers on the Long Cross estate. They are complaining about the syringes dropped on the waste-ground near their flats, the rubbish spilling from bins, the traffic congestion. “It’s not too great around here. We don’t feel part of the Bristol you see on the telly,” says Shannon Ogborne, 20. “There are a lot of people doing well in this city but we don’t see that out here.” | Marvin Rees, Labour’s candidate for the Bristol mayoralty, is chatting to two mothers on the Long Cross estate. They are complaining about the syringes dropped on the waste-ground near their flats, the rubbish spilling from bins, the traffic congestion. “It’s not too great around here. We don’t feel part of the Bristol you see on the telly,” says Shannon Ogborne, 20. “There are a lot of people doing well in this city but we don’t see that out here.” |
| A good chunk of Bristol is booming. Young, talented, moneyed people are moving in, attracted by good jobs and a buzzing city centre. This weekend BBC 6 Music is hosting an eagerly awaited festival that will focus on the vibrant music and arts scene in Banksy’s home patch. | A good chunk of Bristol is booming. Young, talented, moneyed people are moving in, attracted by good jobs and a buzzing city centre. This weekend BBC 6 Music is hosting an eagerly awaited festival that will focus on the vibrant music and arts scene in Banksy’s home patch. |
| Bristol’s directly elected mayor – the independent George Ferguson – has undoubtedly done huge amounts to raise the profile of the city, not only launching eye-catching schemes and developments but travelling abroad for an audience with the pope and rubbing shoulders with the world’s political leaders, including the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, at the UN climate talks in Paris in December. | Bristol’s directly elected mayor – the independent George Ferguson – has undoubtedly done huge amounts to raise the profile of the city, not only launching eye-catching schemes and developments but travelling abroad for an audience with the pope and rubbing shoulders with the world’s political leaders, including the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-Moon, at the UN climate talks in Paris in December. |
| But he will face a battle over the next few months to retain power. Labour was devastated when Rees, the favourite for the mayoralty in 2012, was pipped by Ferguson, and will fight even harder for the 43-year-old in 2016. A key argument will be that, while many parts of Bristol are doing well, there are pockets of deprivation where things may be getting worse. | |
| There is an intriguing side issue, too, of course. The mayoral race in Bristol – where Labour has three MPs and the biggest group on the city council – will be a key test of whether Jeremy Corbyn may have a long-term future as party leader. | There is an intriguing side issue, too, of course. The mayoral race in Bristol – where Labour has three MPs and the biggest group on the city council – will be a key test of whether Jeremy Corbyn may have a long-term future as party leader. |
| It is not surprising, then, that Rees, who has given up his job as a public health manager to run for mayor, is already out and about, keen to investigate Ferguson’s record. | It is not surprising, then, that Rees, who has given up his job as a public health manager to run for mayor, is already out and about, keen to investigate Ferguson’s record. |
| Related: Who needs London? Where to work if you're priced out of the capital | Related: Who needs London? Where to work if you're priced out of the capital |
| “George is a decent fella,” Rees said. “He has done a lot to raise the profile of the city. He’s a fantastic presenter, a storyteller. He’s gone around the world representing Bristol. We need to assess to what extent that has played back into real benefit for the city. Has it played back into the lives of real Bristolians? Has it led to quality jobs, access to childcare, economic inclusion?” | “George is a decent fella,” Rees said. “He has done a lot to raise the profile of the city. He’s a fantastic presenter, a storyteller. He’s gone around the world representing Bristol. We need to assess to what extent that has played back into real benefit for the city. Has it played back into the lives of real Bristolians? Has it led to quality jobs, access to childcare, economic inclusion?” |
| Bristol has just completed its year as European Green Capital, but Rees said he was struck by one particular publicity image: “It was of a piece of land ripped from the Earth and floating away.” Clinging to the land were some classic Bristol landmarks – including the Clifton suspension bridge. | Bristol has just completed its year as European Green Capital, but Rees said he was struck by one particular publicity image: “It was of a piece of land ripped from the Earth and floating away.” Clinging to the land were some classic Bristol landmarks – including the Clifton suspension bridge. |
| “That encapsulates the problem,” Rees said. “You have this beautiful story that is ascending into the heavens. You imagine the rest of the people looking up wishing they were part of that story. We should find it morally challenging that in many ways there’s a story of Bristol that is racing off over the horizon and leaving people behind.” | “That encapsulates the problem,” Rees said. “You have this beautiful story that is ascending into the heavens. You imagine the rest of the people looking up wishing they were part of that story. We should find it morally challenging that in many ways there’s a story of Bristol that is racing off over the horizon and leaving people behind.” |
| A report presented to City Hall seems to back up some of Rees’s concerns. The More Than A Roof strategy concluded that Bristol was a “city of inequalities with persistent health and wellbeing gaps between different parts”. | A report presented to City Hall seems to back up some of Rees’s concerns. The More Than A Roof strategy concluded that Bristol was a “city of inequalities with persistent health and wellbeing gaps between different parts”. |
| It said housing was becoming increasingly unaffordable for many people and that the number of rough sleepers continued to rise. It also suggested too many local people were struggling to get the good jobs from which smart outsiders were benefitting. | It said housing was becoming increasingly unaffordable for many people and that the number of rough sleepers continued to rise. It also suggested too many local people were struggling to get the good jobs from which smart outsiders were benefitting. |
| “Despite the prosperity within the city, there are substantial problems of deprivation in parts of Bristol,” the report said. “The neighbourhoods that do not share the city’s prosperity often have insufficient good housing, transport and access to employment opportunities.” | “Despite the prosperity within the city, there are substantial problems of deprivation in parts of Bristol,” the report said. “The neighbourhoods that do not share the city’s prosperity often have insufficient good housing, transport and access to employment opportunities.” |
| An academic study by Robin Hambleton, from the University of the West of England, and David Sweeting, of the University of Bristol, was also striking. | An academic study by Robin Hambleton, from the University of the West of England, and David Sweeting, of the University of Bristol, was also striking. |
| It found a “significant increase” in the visibility of city leadership. In 2012, 24% of citizens thought the city had visible leadership, and by 2014, this figure had risen to 69%. But the report made clear that people from the poorer areas of Bristol felt much less represented than those from the wealthier areas: “These differences between different socio-economic groups suggest that more effort is needed to advance the cause of social inclusion in the democratic governance of the city.” | It found a “significant increase” in the visibility of city leadership. In 2012, 24% of citizens thought the city had visible leadership, and by 2014, this figure had risen to 69%. But the report made clear that people from the poorer areas of Bristol felt much less represented than those from the wealthier areas: “These differences between different socio-economic groups suggest that more effort is needed to advance the cause of social inclusion in the democratic governance of the city.” |
| Rees says the key job of the mayor is to ensure Bristol is a great place for everyone, rich and poor. “If it doesn’t work, you end up with a fragile society and loose social ties that leave you vulnerable to the type of social disintegration we saw ending in the 2011 summer riots. | Rees says the key job of the mayor is to ensure Bristol is a great place for everyone, rich and poor. “If it doesn’t work, you end up with a fragile society and loose social ties that leave you vulnerable to the type of social disintegration we saw ending in the 2011 summer riots. |
| “Inequality is also an economic liability; inequality costs. We have to spend public money dealing with the consequences of inequality whether it be poor health, poor educational attainment … It means we don’t get the workforce we need, we end up importing workers because kids born in the city don’t have access to the high-quality education needed.” | “Inequality is also an economic liability; inequality costs. We have to spend public money dealing with the consequences of inequality whether it be poor health, poor educational attainment … It means we don’t get the workforce we need, we end up importing workers because kids born in the city don’t have access to the high-quality education needed.” |
| Rees’s campaign is likely to take a different tack to 2012, when he was keen simply to talk about what he believed in rather than criticise his opponents. This time he is expected to take on Ferguson head-to-head, and talk more about his own story. | Rees’s campaign is likely to take a different tack to 2012, when he was keen simply to talk about what he believed in rather than criticise his opponents. This time he is expected to take on Ferguson head-to-head, and talk more about his own story. |
| Rees is of mixed race and the son of a retired nursery nurse, Janet, who will introduce him when he launches his campaign this weekend at his old primary school. He lived for a while on the Long Cross estate, a largely white, working class area, where he faced racist abuse. He did well at school, went on to university, worked in the media as well as the health sector, and came to the Labour party and politics through Operation Black Vote. | Rees is of mixed race and the son of a retired nursery nurse, Janet, who will introduce him when he launches his campaign this weekend at his old primary school. He lived for a while on the Long Cross estate, a largely white, working class area, where he faced racist abuse. He did well at school, went on to university, worked in the media as well as the health sector, and came to the Labour party and politics through Operation Black Vote. |
| It clearly irks Rees that during the last campaign Ferguson was the focus of the media, who appeared taken by his promise of politics that was independent of any party. He said he believed reporters swallowed a line that, because Ferguson looked different (he is known for his red trousers) and did not speak like a regular politician, he was anti-establishment. | It clearly irks Rees that during the last campaign Ferguson was the focus of the media, who appeared taken by his promise of politics that was independent of any party. He said he believed reporters swallowed a line that, because Ferguson looked different (he is known for his red trousers) and did not speak like a regular politician, he was anti-establishment. |
| “It’s all right saying you’re going to be independent [but] you have to deliver on that, you have to take Westminster on.” He said the London mayor and Conservative politician, Boris Johnson, had stood up to the government more than Ferguson. | “It’s all right saying you’re going to be independent [but] you have to deliver on that, you have to take Westminster on.” He said the London mayor and Conservative politician, Boris Johnson, had stood up to the government more than Ferguson. |
| Ferguson’s background – he is the privately educated, former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects – is very different to that of his main challenger. | Ferguson’s background – he is the privately educated, former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects – is very different to that of his main challenger. |
| “Real political change is about people coming from unlikely backgrounds and getting elected,” Rees said. “Real political change is about people challenging the status quo.” | “Real political change is about people coming from unlikely backgrounds and getting elected,” Rees said. “Real political change is about people challenging the status quo.” |
| He suggested Bristol needed to be reorganised to work more effectively as a city. “Massive players in the city – health, education and so on – are reporting to central government rather than each other.” | He suggested Bristol needed to be reorganised to work more effectively as a city. “Massive players in the city – health, education and so on – are reporting to central government rather than each other.” |
| Ferguson, who launched his campaign on Thursday, insisted that creating a fair Bristol for all was top of his priorities: “It’s the biggest issue on my mind all the time.” | Ferguson, who launched his campaign on Thursday, insisted that creating a fair Bristol for all was top of his priorities: “It’s the biggest issue on my mind all the time.” |
| The mayor has set up commissions on fairness, education and skills, and sports. “A remarkable amount has been done, but there’s a hell of a lot more to do,” he said. | The mayor has set up commissions on fairness, education and skills, and sports. “A remarkable amount has been done, but there’s a hell of a lot more to do,” he said. |
| Poverty has been a problem in the city for generations, he argues, but the current prosperity, and initiatives such as introducing the living wage for council employees and setting up the city’s own energy company to help tackle energy poverty, should help. | Poverty has been a problem in the city for generations, he argues, but the current prosperity, and initiatives such as introducing the living wage for council employees and setting up the city’s own energy company to help tackle energy poverty, should help. |
| “Compared to the other core cities we’re doing pretty well, average wage rates have gone up,” said Ferguson. But he accepted that finding a way of creating affordable housing remained a major challenge. | “Compared to the other core cities we’re doing pretty well, average wage rates have gone up,” said Ferguson. But he accepted that finding a way of creating affordable housing remained a major challenge. |
| Ferguson dismisses the idea that seeming to be an establishment figure is a problem. “I may have, in some people’s view, an establishment air about me, it doesn’t stop me engaging with all cultures, all ages. It doesn’t make me any less passionate or determined,” he says. | Ferguson dismisses the idea that seeming to be an establishment figure is a problem. “I may have, in some people’s view, an establishment air about me, it doesn’t stop me engaging with all cultures, all ages. It doesn’t make me any less passionate or determined,” he says. |
| Rees said he accepted that, for the sake of the Labour party, the pressure would be on him come polling day in the spring. “Clearly there’s a national narrative around what is happening to the Labour party that means a victory is important.” | Rees said he accepted that, for the sake of the Labour party, the pressure would be on him come polling day in the spring. “Clearly there’s a national narrative around what is happening to the Labour party that means a victory is important.” |
| Rees voted for Andy Burnham as leader, but said he liked Corbyn. “I love the fact he is raising questions that need to be raised about the very nature of the way we do politics and economics. I think he’s a symptom of people’s search for authenticity in politics. I like him – and he made my mum comfortable when he met her; that means a lot to me.” | Rees voted for Andy Burnham as leader, but said he liked Corbyn. “I love the fact he is raising questions that need to be raised about the very nature of the way we do politics and economics. I think he’s a symptom of people’s search for authenticity in politics. I like him – and he made my mum comfortable when he met her; that means a lot to me.” |