News / Politics
‘Marvin has served as a role model and inspiration for many’
A Labour councillor says that the alternative to Bristol’s current mayoral model is a “discredited” system which would lead to “a return to squabbling” at City Hall.
A referendum in May will decide whether we want to keep an elected mayor or for governance to be carried out by committees made up of elected councillors.
For Eastville councillor Marley Bennett, “the leadership, accountability and profile brought to the city by an elected mayor has proved its worth”.
Writing in Labour List, Bennett said: “From delivering on manifesto pledges on housing, the environment and inequality, to gaining international recognition for the city’s response to the toppling of the Edward Colston statue, there’s no question that having an elected mayor has been positive for Bristol…
“Reverting to a committee system would be a step backwards. Before we had an elected mayor, Bristol was a city defined by deadlock. The lack of leadership, whether it was caused by squabbling between the parties, or within the parties as councillors manoeuvred for positions, led to us gaining a reputation as a city where things wouldn’t get done.”
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Bennett said that it “was the election of the mayor, above all, that gave Bristol the sense of purpose and direction it had been so sorely lacking”.
“A return to the discredited committee system would mean a return to squabbling, with the need to seek compromise and political advantage at every turn, and a fear of making necessary but unpopular decisions.”
Bennet added that “as the first directly elected Black mayor in Europe, Marvin has served as a role model and inspiration for many. And George Ferguson was a controversial figure, but nobody can deny that he put Bristol on the map.”
“The mayoral system brings a level of accountability, efficiency and visibility that other systems simply can’t offer.
“Bristol Labour will be campaigning for Bristolians to retain their right to choose who leads the city, in the full knowledge that this is the best option for Bristol, for Labour and for the people we seek to represent.”
Main photo: Volt
Read more: Bristol’s mayoral model debate: The battle for and against
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