Rees named finalist in World Mayor Awards 2023

Marvin Rees has been named as one of the finalists in the World Mayor Awards 2023, recognising mayors who “all face and deal skilfully with issues unique to their communities (and) also address opportunities and challenges common to towns and cities all over the world”.

Bristol’s mayor is up against nine other town and cities leaders including Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kiev and former boxing world champion; and one mayor in charge of a town in Canada with a population of just 700.

“At a time of major conflicts in parts of the world, the World Mayor finalists recognise the contributions cities can make towards forging friendship between people,” says the website of the World Mayor Awards, with the 2023 winners due to be announced in January 2024.

The awards website adds that the nine finalists’ “conducts, goals and achievements have been valued and commended by participants in the World Mayor Project”.

“In addition, many mayors have been praised for the most important quality a local leader can have: Love for their fellow citizens.

“The German language has the word ‘bürgernah’ (close to citizens / proche des citoyens) to describe the relationship between mayors and their citizens. ‘Bürgernähe makes a mayor.'”

Marvin Rees recently entered into the spirit of Halloween – photo: Bristol City Council

Rees, whose mayoral term concludes in May 2024 as Bristol moves to a committee system of governance following a referendum which scrapped the role of mayor, is described as someone who “truly embodies the essence of this year’s theme, ‘Friendship between Cities’. He has established ties between cities, at home and abroad.”

Glowing testimonials include describing Rees as someone “with values of inclusion, compassion and integrity to create a city of hope for all”.

Another endorsement says that Rees “makes the time to connect with real people and invites anyone in to come share solutions for their local challenges”.

Former mayor of Liverpool, Joanne Anderson, said: “I am immensely proud of Mayor Rees’ historic role as Europe’s first directly elected city mayor of Black African-Caribbean descent, which serves as a powerful inspiration for people of the global majority.

“Under Mayor Rees’ adept leadership, Bristol has initiated and nurtured several international partnerships, providing valuable platforms for resource-sharing and idea exchange with cities across the globe.

“This has led to the successful implementation of sustainable and innovative practices, making Bristol an exemplary environmental role model.

“Mayor Rees has been fervently devoted to promoting cultural exchanges, fostering mutual understanding, and cultivating friendships among the citizens of Bristol and its sister cities.

“His commitment to collaboration and friendship between cities has enhanced the quality of life for Bristol’s residents and exemplified the significance of global friendships and cooperation.”

A story in Private Eye revealed that an official at the US embassy in London, Rebecca Lewis, used her State Department email in July to canvas support for Rees.

She said: “We firmly believe that he is a deserving candidate who has tirelessly championed for global racial justice and equality.”

Alongside the testimonials on the World Mayor website, there is also plenty of criticism.

“I am a resident in Bristol and was aghast at hearing that our Mayor Marvin Rees has been shortlisted,” writes Aliaa P.

“How can he be awarded a best mayor, when the City, in Referendum voted against him and for scrapping the mayoral role totally? This happened because the citizen of Bristol had enough of the mayor.

“Most of the housing he promised to build for the poor resulted in unaffordable accommodation, his outreach to a variety is very selective.

“Public transport has become non-existent, he’s defacing the central beautiful areas by building non-affordable, high-rise luxurious flats without compelling developers to leave a big portion for social housing, every street has potholes and not a single proper cycle lane has been put in place.”

Another critical comment by Phil W said: “I read with interest about the forthcoming contest for World Mayor 2023. The criteria outlined on your organisation’s website are indeed laudable.

“However, even if a candidate were to have meritoriously fulfilled the aims set out, would their candidacy be affected in any way if for example the individual had presided over several complete financial disasters involving the unnecessary waste of millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money?

“Or, again talking hypothetically, what if the residents of a World Mayor candidate city had recently voted in a democratic referendum to abolish the position of mayor altogether – presumably for reasons of dissatisfaction with the post-holder?”

Gavin D added: “I was very surprised to see that Marvin Rees has made it to a shortlist for any sort of mayoral accomplishment, let alone World Mayor! He has performed so poorly, that in a referendum in May 2022 the people of Bristol opted to remove the position entirely rather than continue to even have a mayor! As such he is currently in position with no mandate from the people.

“I also take umbrage at the idea that he promotes equality and inclusion. He is a deeply divisive figure, and is known for inappropriate treatment of other councillors and the press

“Failures under his stewardship include: The £50million losses incurred via Bristol Energy; The 132million Bristol Beacon vanity project; The Bristol underground

“His inclusion on this list tarnishes both this competition, and the other shortlist entrants, who I am sure are far more suitable candidates.”

Main photo: Lisa Whiting

Read next:

• Marvin Rees named as one of UK’s most influential Black people
• Marvin Rees’ autobiography, ‘My City’, to be published in June 2024
• Rees lays down challenge to Bristol’s next leaders

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