Marvin Rees has confirmed he is “putting his hat in the ring” to stand as an MP for Bristol North East – even though the new constituency has not yet been created. The current Labour city mayor said he “wouldn’t have gone around the country looking for a seat” because he “wouldn’t have felt authentic running off” elsewhere to hear residents’ issues and “convincing them I was interested”.
But not only is Mr Rees’s nomination as the party’s official candidate far from a done deal, there are several other factors to overcome. The Boundary Commission announced in November that the Kingswood constituency – currently held by Conservative MP Chris Skidmore who is not seeking reelection – was being scrapped and would be carved in two as the Parliamentary map is redrawn.
Traditionally Tory areas like Hanham and Warmley are moving into Jacob Rees-Mogg’s North East Somerset seat while stronger Labour heartlands such as Staple Hill and Kingswood become part of Bristol North East, with the other half of the new constituency lying within Bristol’s city boundaries, including left-leaning strongholds Fishponds and Eastville. But before this can happen, the Boundary Commission has to present its final recommendations to Parliament, expected in July, with the changes taking place in the autumn following the required changes in law.
Read more: We visited Kingswood where next General Election will bring a new political battle
If Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calls a General Election before this, though, it is likely that the existing seats will be contested. The mayor first hinted he might stand in Bristol North East to BBC Radio Bristol’s John Darvall last November, and he confirmed this during his latest interview on the mid-morning show on Thursday, May 25.
The host asked: “There is a seat that is yet to be created because it needs to be legislated for – is that the seat you’re going for if it’s there?” Mr Rees replied: “I am putting my hat in the ring now, having gone through the family discussion about it.
“I wouldn’t have gone around the country looking for a seat. It’s only attractive to me because it is Bristol and I have my family here, so we wouldn't have moved practically anyway.
“I wouldn’t have felt authentic running off to another part of the country, learning about their issues and then regurgitating them, convincing them I was interested. Bristol North East is the one.”
Mr Darvall asked: “So if that seat is created, an election maybe in May next year, possibly the autumn or likely to be the autumn of 2024, that’s the seat you're going to go for as the candidate for Labour?” The mayor replied: “Yes, it is.”
The interview can be heard here.
Read next:
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees considering running for MP in next general election
New Boundary Commission map creates 'Bristol North East' constituency
Kingswood Conservative MP Chris Skidmore to stand down at next election
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