Mayor Election 2016 / News
Shadow Chancellor backs Marvin Rees
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell came to Bristol on Thursday, showing his support for Labour mayoral candidate Marvin Rees.
As part of his visit, which also included a speech at Trinity Centre, he organised a meeting with Acorn Lettings to chat to the tenants’ rights campaign group.
The setting was apt as the housing crisis is what Marvin Rees has pledged to tackle, promising to build 8,000 homes by 2020 if he becomes Mayor.
is needed now More than ever
After joining the Shadow Chancellor for the meeting with Acorn in Lawrence Hill, Rees said: “It [McDonnell’s visit] is obviously a real lift to the area, to the energy of the campaign, but it also shows that we’re going to have the allies where we need to have them.
“Clearly we need to set up priorities locally and work with our local institutions across local government, health, private sector, unions, voluntary sector, criminal justice system.
“To have our national leaders saying ‘we will back you’ as we heard today on housing’, will get us the advocacy at the national level to make sure the argument is heard in Westminster.”
McDonnell added: “It [the mayoral campaign] is critical for Bristol and it’s critical for our people. The problem that Bristol’s got at the moment is that in central government you’ve got a mayor that’s not heard.
“There’s no voice from Bristol at the moment and you need a voice in central government arguing for the resources and making sure that they can negotiate the best deal they possibly can for the people of this city. Literally, there is a silence from Bristol at the moment.
“You need a strong voice in government; you need someone who’s clear about his ideas; what the priorities are.”
Rees said Acorn was “one of the most impressive community organisations in the city”.
Acorn have published an Ethical Lettings Charter, adopted by the council, which asks letting agents and landlords to sign up and promise basic standards.
Acorn campaigners have been active in standing up to questionable rental practices and often use name-and-shame tactics to highlight landlords which need to improve.
Read interviews, opinion articles and watch videos from all the mayoral candidates here.
Pictures by Jelena Belec