News / Bristol Mayoral Elections 2021
Keir Starmer joins Marvin Rees on campaign trail in Bristol
Keir Starmer took part in a whistle-stop tour of Bristol on Thursday to support Marvin Rees’ mayoral re-election campaign.
Rees secured victory in 2016 on a platform of promising to build more homes in the city and took the Labour Party leader for a tour of one of the new developments created under his tenure.
Between 1,350 and 1,994 homes were completed each year in the city in the four years from 2016/17 to 2019/20, according to Bristol City Council figures.
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If re-elected, Rees has promised to double down on efforts on housing, pledging to build 2,000 new homes each year, with at least 1,000, affordable by 2024.
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Starmer also joined prospective Labour candidates canvassing on the streets of Southville, a ward currently represented by two Green Party councillors.
His visit came on the same day campaigners hung flags outside City Hall to highlight the lack of places in specialist schools for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Offering his support for the incumbent Labour mayor, Starmer said: “Marvin Rees has a proud record of delivering for Bristol. I know he will continue that record as the city recovers from the pandemic.
“Where the Conservative government in Westminster has failed, Marvin has stepped up. He is tackling the housing crisis, with cranes on the horizon across Bristol. And he is focused relentlessly on jobs and opportunities for people in Bristol.
“Marvin’s priorities are the priorities of the people of Bristol. At these May elections, I urge people to back Marvin and Bristol’s Labour councillors to continue their fantastic work.”
Alongside housing, Rees is focusing on jobs and opportunities for young people as his key election pledges.
Marvin Rees and Keir Starmer visit a new housing development on Bath Road – photo: Labour Party
Rees added: “I am proud to be working with fellow Bristolians to get stuff done for our city. Together, we have tripled affordable house building and got rough sleeping down by 80 per cent.
“We are starting work on the biggest council house developments in decades, with our £9million apprenticeship construction skills centre in south Bristol giving even more young people the chance to get on.
“By working together since 2016, we have been delivering for Bristol. We need to build on these strong foundations as we continue to work together to recover from the pandemic, building a city of hope where nobody is left behind.”
Main photo: Labour Party
Read more: Green mayoral candidate pledges to help Bristol ‘recover, then thrive’
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