Green & Lib Dem candidates defect to Ferguson

Two parliamentary election candidates have defected from their parties to throw their support behind George Ferguson’s mayoral bid.

Darren Hall, Green, and Abdul Malik, Lib Dem, lost out on seats in parliament representing Bristol West and Bristol East.

They have now shocked their parties by backing Ferguson’s campaign for a second term as mayor of Bristol.

Hall, who came second to Labour in Bristol West, said he would continue to be a member and still supported the party, but was backing George to complete unfinished business.

Malik, a former councillor who finished fifth in Bristol East, praised the mayor’s “passionate response” to the refugee crisis, adding that he deserved another term.

Hall, who led a Green surge which saw the biggest swing in the constituency’s history, announced he would be behind Ferguson on Wednesday.

He said: “I am a Green Party supporter and member, and in the long term I’d like to see a Green Mayor running Bristol.

“However, it’s important to acknowledge the good work that’s been done over the last few years and the positive changes we’ve seen in the city. Progress has been made and ambitious long-term projects are finally off the ground.

“Bristol’s standing has improved dramatically and we’re now seen as a major international green city.”

He added: “I feel that having an independent Mayor working with all parties including the Greens has played a significant part in building the momentum we have. We now need to make more progress around equality, transport and especially affordable housing.

“I want to accelerate our progress to a low carbon economy in 2020 and see the Green Party working with the Mayor to make Bristol the city we know it can be.”

Malik, who is also the chairman of Easton Jamia Masjid mosque, announced his backing on Friday. He said: “We need someone like Mr Ferguson at the forefront of Bristol politics and during the last three years he has delivered a new type of leadership that gets things done in city hall and has removed the party political blockages that were stopping so much progress in the past.

“I believe that he deserves another term to continue the excellent work that he is doing around business, education, transport, sustainability and equality within our city.

“As a businessman, I can see firsthand the benefits that the Mayor is bringing to Bristol as businesses continue to grow and many new start-ups enter the market.

“As a community leader it is clear to me that George Ferguson is the person who can best represent the BME community in Bristol and he is also willing to listen to all communities in Bristol. I think that this was highlighted by the Mayor’s passionate response to the growing refugee crisis and his promotion of Bristol as a city of sanctuary for the most vulnerable in our society.

“I hope that the rest of the city can see that with an independent Mayor Bristol is progressing and I do not want to see it fall back into the politics of old, where party machines lead local councils and very little progress is made.

“I’m passionate about Bristol and want a Mayor who shares that passion about Bristol and representing it.”