Bristol Mayor: Here Comes the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss

bristol | local government | news report Friday August 03, 2012 18:11 by BristolBod

Ah the Tories grand experiment in 'Democracy' arrives and most cities were sensible enough to reject it.  Thanks to a poor turn-out, a small part of Bristol said yes to it and not enough said no.  So we're stuck with it.

So who's going to stand?  Ashley Lib Dem Jon Rogers has been selected to run, saying:

"Just a short note following yesterday's eFocus newsletter to say that last night I was selected to be the Bristol Liberal Democrat mayoral candidate for the election in November.  I am honoured and excited by the prospect. 

I will continue to work as hard as ever for Ashley ward and am really grateful for the help and support that so many people give so generously."

Lets hope his campaign can sprinkle some of the star-dust that the national LibDems have been generating with thier hammering of the poor, letting the rich get richer, privitisation-a-go-go and ongoing bending over for the Tories to do thier thing to the country.  At current rate one poll has the LibDems wiped out by 2015: "The results put Liberal Democrat support at 24%, down 17 points on their 2010 showing and in third place against Labour and the Tories."  http://www.politics.co.uk/news/2012/04/16/poll-lib-dems-will-be-wiped-out-in-2015

We can but hope. 

So who else is standing?  Labour, busy being an ineffective opposition, have picked Marvin Rees.  Here's how the Labourlist site described him, "An alumnus of the Yale Global Leaders Programme, Rees stood unsuccessfully for the Britsol West selection in 2010. He’s not seen as a party “hack” and therefore isn’t tainted with recent party history – but that has lead some to describe him as a relative political novice."

The Tories have selected Sir Bullingdon-Symthe Fox-Jones CBE, RMS, OBE - or should have as that would be funny and I don't care who they selected because I'm not going to vote tory. Ever.

Did I say 'Ever'?  Yes.

The non-party option is the red-trousered George Ferguson.  Interestingly George is a Merchant Venturer and one of the 'elites' of Bristol, which shows how this brave experiment in democracy will take us back to the Pre-1831 days when the rich and powerful ran the city for the rich and powerful.  Snort! Snort!  Some may have forgotten George's role in the infamous 'Red Trousergate'.  I have not.  http://greenbristolblog.blogspot.co.uk/2008/11/stop-press-red-trousergate.html

The Greens have selected Daniella Radice, who seems like a nice person and is the least 'buisness as usual' candidante I'm aware of, so better than any of the above...