THE Labour Party has announced its candidate to succeed Dan Norris as the next West of England Metro Mayor.
Helen Godwin is a former Bristol City Council cabinet member, who won a members ballot over another ex-city councillor, Nicola Beech, and current Bristol Labour group leader Tom Renhard.
The result was announced in late November, shortly after the Conservatives selected another ex-Bristol councillor, Steve Smith, and Greens named current city council deputy leader Heather Mack as their choice for the election, which takes place on May 1.
Current Labour Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who became an MP in July, cannot run again after the party banned its MPs from having second jobs.
Ms Godwin, who grew up in Stapleton and attended Begbrook Primary School, represented Southmead from 2016 until she stood down in 2021, when she took on a job with consultancy firm Pricewaterhousecoopers.
She said: “Our region is brimming with opportunity and promise.
“We have a Labour government with absolute commitment to devolution and to good growth, building on our economic success but making sure success benefits all.
“We need better transport across our region – that will be my priority.
“We need additional and affordable homes, and a better link between education and the jobs that our economy needs to grow.”
One of the nominees has submitted a formal complaint against the party, claiming age and sex discrimination.
South Gloucestershire councillor Ian Scott, 61, was one of six people originally shortlisted.
But the Woodstock ward councillor was dropped at the first hurdle, along with Kingswood ward councillor Sean Rhodes, who is a council cabinet member.
Cllr Scott, a party member for more than 40 years, says he was given no reason why he was “blocked” before constituency parties had the chance to nominate him.
He said: “The only two people blocked at this stage were the two eldest males, of which I was one and blocked with no reason provided.
“I do not mind being rejected by Labour members, that is democracy, but being blocked with no reasons and no right of appeal by a small Labour panel is not democracy.
“Being a left-wing Bennite, I am never surprised Labour blocks me but they cannot defend blocking Sean because he was the only current cabinet member in the race, making him the most senior sole decision-maker.”
Bath & North East Somerset councillor Lesley Mansell, the party’s 2017 Metro Mayor nominee, was eliminated at the constituency party nomination stage.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “The Labour Party has a rigorous process in place set out in the party’s rule book so that we have the highest quality candidates selected for our elections.
“As part of that process all candidates for this selection were offered an interview.”
Includes reporting by Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service