Bristol, Sept. 9

What we need now:


"At least 17 organisations and groups in Bristol have pledged their support for the rally which will take place on College Green at 12pm on Saturday, September 9."

‘Rally for Bristol and hand the Government a mandate 

for change’ 

Ellie Pipe, August 25, 2017 

“We have to recognise the nature of the challenge we face and we have to face it together,” says Marvin Rees, of his bid to mobilise Bristol people to fight against austerity.

The mayor heads to Westminster on September 12, along with core city leaders, to lobby the Government for a re-balancing of sovereignty and an end to the crippling budget cuts that are bringing regions to breaking point.

He has also issued a call to arms and publicly backed what could be the biggest uprising Bristol has ever seen, saying if people turn out to make their voices heard against austerity, he can go to parliament with a mandate for change.

Just two weeks prior to the rally day on September 9, Rees speaks to Bristol24/7 about what he hopes to achieve in Westminster and responds to criticism of the string of cuts his own council is proposing.

“We want to make sure that the work of cities is top of the agenda for Westminster politicians,” says Rees.

“This came about at a Core Cities gathering when I suggested that we do not wait for national politicians to fill the space, but that we go and tell them what the agenda needs to be. It needs to be cities’ speaking.

“For some time, we have been talking about the re-balancing of sovereignty between Westminster and cities so that we have the power, not only to control what goes on, but also so that we can operate within the boundaries of those cities and their influence in the wider world.

“Austerity has come to its end, people from all political persuasions feel that.

“Our job is to go up and make the case and to be there with force and that’s why we want MPs and shadow ministers to make the case too. We will have the leaders of the ten biggest cities outside London standing there and saying this cannot go on.”

At least 17 organisations and groups in Bristol have pledged their support for the rally

But will the Tory Government take heed?

“The Government cannot deliver on housing, or air quality, or education without cities thriving,” argues Rees. “This is about giving cities tools to deliver.”

Corbyn pledged to stand by Bristol and other core cities on a recent visit

He has the support of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who told Bristol24/7 he will stand beside the city leaders in Westminster on a recent visit to the city.

But, against a backdrop of cuts proposed by the council which will hit public services across the city, including libraries, parks, school crossing patrols and adult social care, many are questioning how the mayor can condemn cuts on one hand and then implement them on the other.

“I get people coming up to me all the time and saying what they want me to spend money on and all these things are important,” says Rees. “We want to spend money on all of them, but we live within the framework we do and our Government are not giving us the options.

“Investing in cities – that’s what we need and are trying to turn around.”

Rees says it is also up to people to take ownership of their public spaces

Taking the example of parks, that stand to have all council funding withdrawn by 2019, Rees says it is down to people to mobilise and take ownership of their public spaces.

But, he adds: “Clearly I think Government has a role to play in maintaining things like parks and we would not choose this situation.

“To stop ourselves being taken over by civil servants, we have to balance the budget. But, we also have to look after the interests of the poorest people.

“We have to deal with the immediate challenge of trying to balance our budget while lobbying national government to mend our cities.”

Rees makes a final point that Bristol City Council is only one of a large number of organisations that shape life in the city, making his point that it is up to individuals and groups to act.

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Rally against austerity could be Bristol’s biggest 

uprising yet 

Ellie Pipe, August 15, 2017 

An uprising against the Government-imposed austerity that is bringing Bristol to breaking point will take place next month.

Mayor Marvin Rees has now issued an official rallying call for people across the city to unite on September 9 and march in protest at the vicious public sector cuts that are taking their toll across the country.

“Across the UK, there are adult and children’s social care departments struggling to keep up with the costs of rising demand on their services,” said Rees.

“Council services are being reduced and stopped to find the money to keep the essential life and limb services from falling over. This isn’t right and it isn’t a reflection of the driving force that cities have become in the modern economy.”

The mayor’s official announcement comes after a collective of key representatives from lobby, political and trade union groups in the city called on him to publicly support a mass demonstration that they hope will make waves throughout the UK.

“There is the potential for a huge Bristol demonstration in opposition to cuts imposed on this city, and many others, by the Conservative government – one with a national impact,” said a spokesperson for Bristol People’s Assembly when they announced plans for a public rally last month.

Marvin Rees says he is concerned about the cost of public sector cuts

Rees will join other core city leaders in Westminster on September 12, to present a green paper, ‘Invest Reform Trust: A Core Cities UK Green Paper for a Stronger, Fairer Britain’.

This, he says, reflects that cities are the drivers of the modern economy and are magnets for culture, talent and investment. Yet, according to estimates from the Local Government Association, by 2020, councils will have lost 75 per cent of the funding they had in 2015.

Thousands marched through the streets of Bristol in May to protest against cuts to school budgets

“Cities are at breaking point when it comes to council provided services,” continued Rees.

“What I’m concerned about as a city leader is the cost of the cuts. These short-term savings will undermine our communities and population health and will ultimately cost us more in the medium to long-term. It’s crucial we take this case to government.

“It’s important that along with making the case to government ministers, we get support from as many MPs in Westminster as possible. My message is simple, if you believe that there is an alternative to austerity then join with me, the Trade Unions, the People’s Assembly and the people of Bristol on September 9 to show the government and other UK cities that we want change and we’re prepared to take that ask to Westminster.”

Members of Bristol People’s Assembly protest against austerity and local government cuts

At least 17 organisations and groups in Bristol have pledged their support for the rally which will take place on College Green at 12pm on Saturday, September 9.