BSMG — As the polls closed for the PCC, mayoral and councillor elections, we asked inner-city voters what did they think about the elections and their predictions for the results – which will be announced on Friday, Saturday and Sunday respectively.
Most of the inner-city voters we approached agree that the mayoral election is going to be a two-horse race. They believe if Marvin Rees is to be elected, he must win the first round of the counting; but if it goes to a second ballot George Ferguson will get elected.
Mohamed Youssuf, Ashley resident: “Bristol is a fractured city and it isn’t ready to elect a BME mayor yet.”
Fuad Taarwale, Lawrence Hill resident and Labour voter: “George Ferguson will win the mayoral election because the inner city wards, where BME [Black, Minority and Ethnic] and Labour voters mostly concentrate, have always had the lowest turnouts.”
Mohamed Abdi Sayaqle, Lawrence Hill resident and Labour voter: “Labour will retain [its minority] in the council, but George will win [the mayoral election] again because Labour doesn’t seem to have the tenacity to put Marvin in office.”
Mohamed Mohamoud, Ashley resident: “I think George Ferguson is going to come back as Marvin wouldn’t be able to win the first round of the count and because the majority of the people do not vote … Secondly, I believe the only thing that George got it right was the [controversial] Resident Parking Zone [and that is why he is going to be re-elected].”
AbdiHakim Asir, Lawrence Hill resident: “I would love to see Marvin win because he understands the issues faced by people living in our area [Lawrence Hill], but it’s likely that George will come back because of his record.”
Saed Ali, Lawrence Hill resident: “It’s very difficult to predict the results of the Bristol mayor election. If Marvin doesn’t get 50% of the votes, he will struggle [to win a second ballot]. But it seems that he will be our mayor for the next four years, because of the way that Labour worked through the campaign – and London could have its very Black mayor.
Recently we have seen two miracles: Jeremey Corbyn (200/1) was crowned as the leader of the Labour party and Leicester City (5000/1) won the premier league. Therefore, I wouldn’t get surprised if Mayor Festus Kudehinbu (200/1), a taxi driver, becomes our next mayor.
Locally, Margret Hickman and Hibaq Jama will be re-elected [as councillors for Lawrence Hill] because of the Somali vote – and Mahadi Sharif is going to be the first Somali councillor in Manchester.”
Abdul Ahmed, Lawrence Hill resident: “My slogan is Marvin4Mayor. Not that I have a lot of expectations from him, but Marvin as a person is a change. Change in terms of the leadership of this city and in terms of the history of this city and the country. A black man filling the highest position of this city must inspire our hopeless youngsters – especially boys.”
Muhsin Baasey, Lawrence Hill resident and Labour voter: “I voted for Marvin and if he doesn’t get 50% of the votes, it will go to a second ballot which is going to be George’s. Consequently, it does mean that Bristol want George to finish the job he has started.”
Bristol Somali Media Group 