George Ferguson speaks at a rally at Temple Meads
George Ferguson wants the world to forget about Manchester or London and start talking about how an elected mayor brought about the “extraordinary transformation of Bristol”.
The independent candidate for mayor promised more than 200 people at a rally at Temple Meads station last night that he would take “brave measures” to deal with issues surrounding the environment, education and housing.
He promised not to criticise his fellow candidates throughout the campaign and insisted he would bring the best talents from across the political divide, but insisted that the power that “over-inflated egos” within the council chamber hold should belong to the people.
Despite adding he would not be producing a manifesto, he mooted the idea of reducing the speed limit on the M32 to 30mph in a bid to improve air quality.
And in a bid to gain support from key staff working at the Council House, he promised a one-month amnesty for officers to tell him their grievances and outline what it was about the authority that prevented them doing their jobs more effectively.
“Bristol is special, we know that, but does the world know that? One of the prime jobs for a leader is to make sure that the rest of the world comes to Bristol, and invests here in a useful way,” he said.
“But it is a disconnected city – a city of villages glued together. Some don’t feel part of Bristol and there is too much of a feeling of them and us.”
Defending his idea of renaming the Council House to City Hall, he added: “The Council House is a mini-Westminster which gives councillors an over-inflated sense of their position. The council belongs to us not them.
“We need to change the culture of government so that we can use all the talents of our city. Good councillors sit in silos we call political parties, not able to contribute in a creative way. An independent mayor can bring together the talents of all sides.
“Being a mayor is about managing a team, inspiring the city, and making sure that every city in the world is talking about Bristol and the extraordinary transformation in this city. I need you all to help make that happen.”
The architect made his speech inside the big top tent at Temple Meads, surrounded by the public and the campaign team he is building.
Volunteers donned ‘George for Bristol’ T-shirts and tried to sign up more supporters among the crowd, which Mr Ferguson said was a key element of the event.
Meanwhile, it emerged that the former boss of what is now Bristol News & Media, owners of The Post and Western Daily Press newspapers, has been named as Mr Ferguson’s campaign manager.
Paul Kearney told Bristol24-7 his aim was to bring organisation to the enthusiasm of supporters and, crucially, to raise funds for the campaign.
Mr Ferguson said of him: “I know Paul by repute. He will bring organisation to the enthusiasm in our band of helpers. He is a very good person manager and a personable guy.”
The crowd were largely supportive of the red-trousered candidate, with only one person attempting to heckle the speech.
Speaking to Bristol24-7, visitor Alice Stapleton from Bishopston said she had already made up her mind to vote for Mr Ferguson and was here to support the campaign.
Others were less impressed though. Jim Taylor, from Lawrence Hill, said: “There were some very fine words, but no detail. You have to wonder whether he will be able to do any of the things he says he will when the realities of running Bristol hit home.”
Meanwhile, Margaret Davis from Redland added: “I do think the city needs shaking up. It has drifted for too long with no party really doing much to improve things, and he could be good. But all politicians make good speeches and then let you down, don’t they.”
So far, only Mr Ferguson and Marvin Rees for the Labour Party are confirmed candidates for the election. Voting will take place in November.
The best elected mayor for Bristol would probably be found by putting all those with the relevant skills into a hat and drawing one out, particularly if the chosen person had to be dragged kicking and screaming to the Counts Louse to do the job, but thereafter filling the role diligently in the hope of getting time off for good behaviour.
Anyone vain enough to stand willingly for public office should be automatically disqualified.
Whilst many would call me partisan I believe in evidence based policy making and not announcing policy that sounds good but does sweet FA.
George Ferguson's 30mph proposal seems to run contrary to current research
http://www.bristol.airqualitydata.com/cgi-bin/faq…
Emissions are at their worst in very slow moving traffic (less than 30mph) and in very fast moving traffic. (motorways)
George's policy would take cars out of one very high emissions speed and move them directly to another.
I also fail to see what addressing the M32 will do to city wide emission when cars moving around the remaining 99% of Bristol will be doing so at a high emissions speed and the report makes clear car emissions problems are very local (it does not disperse the same way as industry emissions do.)
As with much of what George says. It's all for show. It has no real benefit for most Bristolians.
The "study" Lewis links to actually says "Slow moving, congested traffic and very fast traffic (e.g. on motorways) cause the most emissions." It also says "Least emissions are produced by free flowing vehicles driven at moderate speed".
The interjection by Lewis of the phrase "less than 30mph" implies he considers speeds between 20mph and 30mph "very slow" which makes you wonder what Lewis considers to be moderate speeds?
"Slow moving, congested traffic" does not mean traffic travelling at 30mph, it means traffic running in start-stop mode – moderate speeds are 20 – 30 mph, the sort of speed proposed by Ferguson.
Research shows that higher incidences of acceleration, deceleration, and braking, increase air pollution. Traffic calming reduces idle times by 15%, gear changing by 12%, brake use by 14%, and petrol use by 12%. This slower and calmer style of driving reduces emissions. Even aggressive driving under the lower speed limit produces lower emissions. Thus a reduction down to 30mph can indeed reduce the level of emissions and improve air quality.
It is very disappointing to see leading figures in the Labour Party support higher speeds. Lewis should be ashamed of himself. The Labour Party should disown him.
Only a moron or someone with an axe to grind would draw the conclusion that I was supporting higher speeds.
I'm merely pointing out that your lower speed limit for the M32 is not supported by science. Nor does it address wider concerns about emissions across Bristol.
Finally you can call me Darren or Mr. Lewis. Not Lewis. You're not in your public school now
So people didn't use surnames when you went to school?
Darren you may soon run out of people to call morons! If there is a continued decline in political parties then it will become necessary that coalitions are formed, as is clear in Bristol. This means having some friends left on the other side of the debate.
It is a speed limit. It represents the maximum speed a vehicle will move. That presupposes vehicle drives at slower than that speed does it not?
!reducing the speed limit on the M32 to 30mph in a bid to improve air quality"
How does that work?
Cars would be on the M32, over twice as long, in a lower gear.
Couldn't agree more. Fergie needs to think more deeply on this one. Plus surely all those cars travelling at 70 mph must create an artificial wind that blows the pollution away.
"Bristol is special, we know that, but does the world know that?" Who gives a shit?
When is a leader of this city actually going to concentrate on doing things for the people who already live and work here instead of obsessing about how we are perceived from the outside. I know we need to attract investment to make the city run, but its all anyone ever seems to talk about!
Bristol is renowned as a community-driven city, and its 'villages' are what make those communities possible. Why don't we utilise them to change the city from the inside, instead of hoping someone will come and do it for us?
So we need radical change and total transformation. This is pathetic. Change is not enough, we need to know about the detail.
Ridiculous analogy maybe, but Hitler offered transformational change to restore pride.
Trouble with independents with no manifesto is that you have no idea what they will do – 'course he won't break any promises – cos he's not making any.
With political parties you at least know what they stand for, what their aims are.
And what if the most talented financial brain is a Tory – who wants maximum cuts on top of those already imposed? Hideous consequences – but cleverly done.
Time to grow up politically – independents are only independent until they make their first decision. George wants an extra £3m cuts on top of the £70m – imposed by the coalition – Bristol City Council already faces. We're beginning to get a clearer idea of where he stands, then. Show more of your true colours, George.
"Councillors have an over-inflated sense of their position" says a man dressed like a ringmaster standing in the middle of a big top.
'Defending his idea of renaming County Hall to City Hall, he added: “County Hall is a mini-Westminster which gives councillors an over-inflated sense of their position. The council belongs to us not them.'
Where is County Hall?
Sorry, my mistake – I of course meant the Council House. I have updated the story accordingly. Many thanks for pointing out the error