News / Marvin Rees

Rees in Rwanda: ‘I’m leading’

By Martin Booth  Wednesday Nov 15, 2023

Marvin Rees says that he is still leading Bristol despite being more than 4,000 miles away in Rwanda as hundreds of Barton House residents come to the end of a first full day of being unable to return to their homes.

The mayor is in the Rwandan capital of Kigali taking part in the Commonwealth Local Government Conference.

Revealing his whereabouts in a blog published on Wednesday more than 24 hours after residents of Barton House were told they had to evacuate their building because of structural issues, Rees said that his “thoughts are with everyone at this time”.

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“I’m sorry to residents that I couldn’t be with you in person last night. Over the weekend, I travelled to Kigali to take part in the Commonwealth Local Government Forum’s conference on climate and migration.

“I will be back in Bristol as soon as I can but in the meantime I know housing officers, cabinet members, my office, senior council staff have all been on hand.”

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Read more: Council criticised for handling of tower block evacuation

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“Some people are asking, where are you? Why aren’t you here leading and visiting?” asked Paul Barltrop on BBC Points West to Rees in Rwanda via a video link.

Rees responded: “Well I’m leading and I’m here talking to you now, but unfortunately I’m representing the UK at the Commonwealth Local Government Forum, where I’m in Kigali.

“I’ll be back in Bristol as soon as I practically can be… It’s not an easy airport to get to but I’m in touch with my team and I’m talking to them daily and I’m talking to residents as well.”

Rees was speaking from Rwanda on the same day as the UK Supreme Court ruled that the government’s policy to send asylum seekers to the central African country was unlawful.

Main photo: BBC

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