Press Statement: Bristol mayoral election

Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities said of the Bristol mayoral election: “In May the people of Bristol decided to change how their city is governed when they voted for a...

Press release published on 15 November 2012

Alexandra Jones, Chief Executive of Centre for Cities said of the Bristol mayoral election:

“In May the people of Bristol decided to change how their city is governed when they voted for a directly elected mayor.  Today they will decide who will take on this job. Bristol will be one of the trailblazers for mayoral government and the new mayor’s first six months in office will be critical to the success of the role. His or her priorities must be delivering jobs and economic growth and ensuring the Bristol ‘City Deal’ – unlocking investment and focusing on skills – is a success.

The mayor also needs to build excellent relationships with neighbouring authorities to ensure that decisions on major planning, skills and transport policies are not restricted by political boundaries. In the longer term, Centre for Cities’ research suggests that the economy of Bristol and surrounding areas could benefit from having a ‘metro mayor’ with a remit to make strategic decisions across local authority boundaries on infrastructure and planning.

Against a challenging economic backdrop, the mayor has an exciting opportunity to support Bristol, already a thriving city, to deliver economic growth that can benefit not just local residents but also the UK as a whole.”