Local leadership is the answer to populism

It is distressing to report that two of Bristol’s most respected civic leaders have received death threats in recent weeks.  Mayor Marvin Rees, who is mixed race, and Deputy Mayor Asher Craig, who is black, have both made reports to Avon and Somerset Police, and a 27 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated harassment.  Here in this post we do not want to dwell on these shocking incidents.  Rather, we want to draw attention to the strengths of Bristol’s leadership and highlight the launch of a new and ambitious collaborative effort.  Launched at a City Gathering on 11 January 2019 the One City Plan maps out a strategy for Bristol for the period through to 2050.  In this article, first published on the Local Government Chronicle website on 21 January 2019, Robin Hambleton suggests that local leaders can make a positive difference to the trajectory of their city.