Bristol Labour Refuse to Engage with Committee System Discussions

• The Bristol Labour Group have refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue with the other parties, despite their leader Cllr Tom Renhard saying that “the residents of Bristol cannot afford for us not to work with other parties as is necessary”.
• Bristol Green Group, who now have 34 councillors, have committed to sharing the chairs of the new eight policy committees proportionally, believing that “no one party has a monopoly on good ideas.”
• Green Group Leader Cllr Emma Edwards wrote to party group leaders earlier this week to discuss their positions, with Labour declining, so far, to engage.

While negotiations are underway this week on how Bristol is governed post-election, the Bristol Labour Group have refused to engage in any meaningful dialogue with the other parties, despite their leader Cllr Tom Renhard saying that “the residents of Bristol cannot afford for us not to work with other parties as is necessary”.

In 2022, the city voted to move to a committee system and abolish the role of Mayor. Cllr Heather Mack, who is the Green nominee for Deputy Leader of the council, previously described this system as a “more democratic process where councillors from all parts of the city – from Filwood to Lawrence Hill, Hengrove to Stoke Bishop – and people from all walks of life and backgrounds can work together to improve Bristol for everyone.”

Following the election where Greens fell two short of a majority with 34 councillors, the role of Mayor has been abolished and major decisions will now be made by eight policy committees.

The Greens believe that the chairs of these committees and the councillors that sit on them should be proportionally divided. Labour have refused to confirm whether or not they will take any policy committee chairs, despite being asked earlier this week.

Cllr Emma Edwards, Leader of the Green Group on Bristol City Council said, “The people of Bristol voted for the committee system and the Greens because they saw that political culture in this city needs to change. By starting these discussions, we are trying to work in a collaborative way that the previous Labour Mayor never did.

“Avoiding meetings with the other parties to talk about this like adults is a dereliction of Labour’s responsibility to the city, and an insult to all those that voted for Labour and a more democratic governance system.

“If Labour do not take the policy committee chairs that they are entitled to, they will not get extra chairs on any regulatory committees. Ultimately, we want to work together for the good of the city, and we believe that is what the people of Bristol want too. It is disappointing that Labour are not coming to the table to negotiate at this vital time.”