News / Politics
Three former cabinet members remain in running for metro mayor
The final four Labour candidates left in the race to be the party’s nomination for the 2025 West of England metro mayor election include three members of former Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ cabinet.
Nicola Beech and Helen Godwin are no longer at City Hall but Tom Renhard remains as a councillor for Horfield.
Bath & North East Somerset councillor Lesley Mansell, who finished second in the inaugural election behind Conservative Tim Bowle, also remains in contention.
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Both South Gloucestershire councillors who threw their hats in the ring, cabinet member Sean Rhodes and backbencher Ian Scott, fell at the first hurdle when they were eliminated by the selection panel.
No announcement has been made but Bristol24/7 understands that four contenders are left to battle it out to succeed Labour incumbent Dan Norris, who is also MP for North East Somerset & Hanham and therefore cannot stand at the election in May because of new party rules that prevent second jobs in elected office.
The next stage of the internal process is for constituency Labour parties (CLP) and trade unions to nominate their preferred candidates.
Beech and Renhard have already both gained the backing of Bristol North West and Filton & Bradley Stoke CLPs.
This closes on Sunday followed by the panel interviewing those who receive at least two nominations before it decides the final shortlist.
Ballots are then issued to local Labour members on November 6, who have two weeks to vote.
Norris narrowly defeated Godwin to be Labour’s candidate at the last poll in 2021. She resigned her role as a city councillor in December 2021 after joining accountancy consultancy giants PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Beech decided not to seek re-election in May after eight years as a councillor.
Renhard was previously cabinet member for housing delivery and homelessness before the Greens became the biggest party in the chamber and now lead the authority in a new committee system.
Main photos: Nicola Beech / Tom Renhard / Helen Godwin
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