Marvin Rees was elected as Bristol Mayor in 2016 and has taken the city on a transformative journey through climate change action, social mobility and more recently an energised conversation around race inequality. 

Rees joined host Emily Rodgers on the Public Sector Voices podcast this week to discuss the events of the last few weeks and the wider problems the country faces when true diversity is neglected. 

He calls it ‘a big time of self-reflection for Bristol’ as people deal with the symbolic removal of the Colston statue, whilst advocating for the delivery of a full education of Britain’s history. As he puts it; ‘half the truth is no truth’.

Rees talks about the dilemma of being a black politician, under representation of minorities in local Government and the importance of good leadership to tackle institutional racism. 

But as the Mayor points out it’s not about guilt, it’s about open lines of communication to shape a country that works for everyone. 

Listen to this week’s episode of Public Sector Voices for a frank and honest portrayal of the landscape of the city and what can be done to improve it. 

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