Marvin Rees, now Lord Rees of Easton, has disclosed payments to his company from organisations that secured contracts during his mayoralty, raising questions about financial interests.
Marvin Rees, the former Mayor of Bristol, has disclosed that a company he established, Three and Two Ltd, has recently received payments from two organisations that entered into significant contracts with Bristol City Council during his tenure. Since departing from his position in May 2024, Rees has been ennobled and is now known as Lord Rees of Easton, which necessitates him to declare financial interests under parliamentary rules.
Three and Two Ltd was incorporated on April 19, 2024, just weeks before Rees’ last day in office. The company is registered at a private address in South Gloucestershire, with Rees being the sole director. In his declaration of Registered Interests, Rees categorises the company as a ‘personal services company for the member’s consultancy work and public speaking.’
Following his mayoralty, Rees has engaged in public speaking at various conferences, both within the UK and particularly in the United States, covering topics such as the environment, race, class, international development, urban leadership, and cities. His clientele includes organisations like Ameresco, Cambridge Management Consulting, the Mayors Migration Council, the University of Pennsylvania, Empire Fighting Chance, and the Overseas Development Institute.
Rees’ involvement with Ameresco is noteworthy, given the firm’s relevance to a substantial public-private partnership — the Bristol City Leap project — established while he was in office. This £1 billion initiative, initiated in 2022, aims to decarbonise the city and its infrastructure, with the District Heat Network being a primary project outcome. Since leaving office, Rees has purportedly conducted engagements with Ameresco, which was instrumental in the project. The Bristol City Leap project was recognised with the 2024 Award of Distinction for Public-Private Collaboration in Cities, an accolade awarded by the Global Partnership, which works in conjunction with the World Economic Forum and UN Habitat.
In addition to Ameresco, Empire Fighting Chance has also contracted Rees through his company. The organisation, which extends beyond boxing training to support local youth, was involved in a Community Asset Transfer scheme during Rees’ mayoralty, enabling them to acquire land for a youth centre named The Mill in Easton. Critics have questioned Rees’ failure to disclose his interests in Empire Fighting Chance while in office, given his longstanding affiliation as a volunteer ambassador.
In recent activities, Empire Fighting Chance has compensated Rees for consulting work aimed at establishing connections with similar initiatives across Central America, focusing on strategies to combat gang culture and enhance youth support.
As these developments unfold, Bristol Live has reached out for comments from both Ameresco and Lord Rees, and responses are currently awaited.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://joannab.substack.com/p/ex-mayor-of-bristol-declares-hes – This URL supports Marvin Rees’ disclosure of being paid by Ameresco and other companies, including Cambridge Management Consulting and Empire Fighting Chance, which benefited from his decisions as mayor. It also highlights the establishment and roles of Three and Two Ltd.
- https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/15661976/officers – This link provides details about Marvin Rees’ role as the director of Three and Two Ltd, including his appointment date and address, corroborating the company’s incorporation and his involvement.
- https://www.vacourts.gov/courts/scv/rulesofcourt.pdf – While not directly related to Marvin Rees or Bristol, this document illustrates procedures for declaring interests and disclosing information in legal contexts, which is relevant to parliamentary and local governance transparency.
- https://www.mass.gov/guide-to-evidence/article-xi-miscellaneous – This resource provides examples of how evidence and declarations of interest are handled in legal proceedings, which can indirectly support discussions around transparency in governance.
- https://www.vacourts.gov – This site is more about legal rules and procedures, not directly related to Marvin Rees but illustrates general principles of disclosure and legal process.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative includes recent events such as Marvin Rees’ departure from office in May 2024 and his ennoblement. It also references contemporary projects like the Bristol City Leap, which suggests the information is relatively current.
Quotes check
Score:
0
Notes:
There are no direct quotes in the narrative to verify.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a local news outlet, The Bristol Post, which is known but not a major national or international authority like the BBC or Reuters.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims regarding Marvin Rees’ business dealings and public engagements appear plausible given his past role and current activities. However, some assertions, like his undisclosed affiliations, warrant further scrutiny.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is generally plausible and includes recent information, suggesting it is not outdated. However, without specific quotes or further details on some claims, such as undisclosed affiliations during his tenure, the assessment remains open, requiring additional verification for complete certainty.
