Analysis
Much of Bowles’ campaign contrasted himself with governance in the region that has been dominated by Labour and Bristol. The (current) deputy chair of the Combined Authority and Mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees, is popular locally (and nationally) and likely accountable for Labour’s relative success in the West of England vote. Yet his priorities – e.g. on housing, where he wants to see substantial house building, cap rents, and has signed an ethical lettings charter with campaigners, are markedly different to Bowles who wants to lessen pressure on the green belt and build ‘the right homes in the right places’. Whether they can work together or Rees is dominated by the three out of four Conservative members of the Combined Authority remains to be seen.
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