Mayor loses out on bid to become MP

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees has lost out on his bid to become a Labour MP.

Labour Party members have voted for London mayor Damien Egan to contest the Bristol North East seat at the next General Election.

Rees is due to step down as Bristol mayor next May. A referendum held in the city last spring saw the role abolished in a favour of a return to the committee style form of local government in the city.

Egan grew up in Bristol before moving to London where he is currently mayor of Lewisham.

He said: “I am honoured to have won the support of Labour members in Bristol North East.

“This is where I am from and I can’t wait to meet everyone, hear what issues matter most and make a real difference.”

Responding to his loss, Mr Rees said he was “looking forward” to campaigning for Mr Egan over the coming months, to “help win the seat and deliver a Labour government”.