Politics of Bristol
The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four MPs representing seats wholly within the city boundaries. As well as these, Filton and Bradley Stoke covers the northern urban fringe in South Gloucestershire and the north eastern urban fringe is in the Kingswood constituency. The overall trend of both local and national representation became left of centre during the latter 20th century, but there was a shift to the right in the 2010 general election (although this was not reflected in the local elections). The city has a tradition of local activism, with environmental issues and sustainable transport[1] being prominent issues in the city.
On 3 May 2012, Bristol held a referendum to decide whether the city should have a directly elected mayor to replace the leader elected by councillors. The result was announced on 4 May. 41,032 voted for an elected mayor and 35,880 voted against, with a turnout of 24%.[2] An election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,[3] with Independent candidate George Ferguson becoming the first Mayor of Bristol.
In 2017 the West of England Combined Authority and Mayor of the West of England were created covering the local authorities of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset. Powers include transport and strategic planning for the combined areas.
Because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, elections for the Mayor of Bristol, Bristol City Council councillors, and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner have been delayed from 2020 to May 2021, with current post holders terms extended by a year and the following terms shortened by a year.[4]
City Council[]
 | This section needs to be updated. (June 2021) |
The City of Bristol is a ceremonial county governed by a unitary authority; Bristol City Council. The city is divided into 35 wards, which each elect one, two or three councillors for a four-year term (depending on the population of the ward). The whole council is elected every four years.[5] The election due in 2020 was delayed until 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Prior to 2016 ward boundary changes, all wards had two councillors, one third of the councillors were elected three years in four, but as only one councillor from any ward stood at a time, two-thirds of wards were competed each election.
The full council of 70 councillors has ultimate responsibility for establishing the decision making process and approving the Council's budget and policy framework.[6] The council meets at the City Hall (known as the Council House up until 2012). Full meetings are chaired by the Lord Mayor, a largely ceremonial role that does not hold direct power. The Lord Mayor is a councillor, elected annually in May by the council members.[7]
The elected mayor (not the Lord Mayor) acts as leader of the cabinet and appoints up to seven councillors as members. The cabinet is responsible for most day-to-day decisions though the elected Mayor retains the right to override cabinet votes.[6]
Composition and control[]
Historically, the Council has been dominated by the Labour Party. However, in 2005, the Liberal Democrats became the minority administration. This lasted until just after the 2007 elections, when the Labour, Conservative and Green party groups joined forces to oust the Lib Dems and install a minority Labour administration.[8] On 24 February 2009 the minority Labour administration resigned following a defeat over plans to build an incinerator in Avonmouth, and the Liberal Democrats resumed control.[9]
In 2009, the election resulted in the Liberal Democrats taking overall majority control of Bristol City Council for the first time. In 2010 they increased their representation to 38 seats giving them a majority of 6.[10] In 2011, they lost their majority leading to a hung council.
In 2012, the inuagural election for the position of Mayor of Bristol was held, with architect and former Liberal councillor George Ferguson being elected under the banner of Bristol 1st.[11]
The 2013 local elections, in which a third of the city's wards were up for election, saw Labour gain 7 seats and the Green party double their seats from 2 to 4 while the Liberal Democrats suffered a loss of 10 seats.[12] These trends were continued into the next election in May 2014, in which Labour gained 3 seats to take their total to 31, the Green Party built on their success by winning 2 more seats, the Conservatives gained 1 seat and UKIP won their first ever seat on the council. In another damaging result, the Lib Dems lost a further 7 seats.[13] In March 2015, the only Independent Councillor on Bristol City Council joined the Conservatives, bringing their total up to 16.[14]
In May 2015, the Green Party continued to increase their number of seats, winning 7 new seats (5 from the Lib Dems and 2 from Labour) and becoming the 3rd largest party on the Council, with the Lib Dems now in 4th. Labour also gained a new seat at the expense of the Lib Dems.[15] The Lib Dem's decline was compounded later that month when one of the remaining Lib Dem Councillors defected to the Greens, leaving the Lib Dems with 9 seats and the Greens with 14.[16]
The 2016 election saw Labour gain 7 seats and in turn regained overall control of the Council, with the Conservatives, Greens and Lib Dems all losing 2 seats and UKIP losing their only seat.[17] Labour candidate Marvin Rees was also elected Mayor, ousting incumbent George Ferguson.[18]
Because the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election was postponed until May 2021.[19] This election saw a surge in support for the Greens, with them gaining 13 seats, becoming the joint largest party on the Council and Labour losing their majority. Marvin Rees was re-elected as Mayor, with the Green's Sandy Hore-Ruthven coming in second place.[20] In July 2021, the Greens elected a Shadow Cabinet to rival Labour.[21][22] The Liberal Democrats originally gained 8 seats in the election, however on 13 December 2021 former Lord Mayor Chris Davies and former Lib Dem Bristol group leader Gary Hopkins left the party to form the Knowle Community Party.[23][24]
Current councillors[]
| Party | Councillors | |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 24 | |
| Labour | 24 | |
| Conservative | 14 | |
| Liberal Democrats | 6 | |
| Knowle Community Party | 2 | |
| Ward | Party | Councillor | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashley | Labour | Amirah Cole | |
| Green | Jude English | ||
| Green | Tim Wye | ||
| Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston | Labour | Donald Alexander | |
| Conservative | John Geater | ||
| Conservative | James Scott | ||
| Bedminster | Labour | Mark Bradshaw | |
| Green | Tessa Fitzjohn | ||
| Bishopston & Ashley Down | Green | Emma Edwards | |
| Green | Lily Fitzgibbon | ||
| Bishopsworth | Conservative | Richard Eddy | |
| Conservative | Kevin Quarterly | ||
| Brislington East | Labour | Katja Hornchen | |
| Labour | Tim Rippington | ||
| Brislington West | Liberal Democrats | Jos Clark | |
| Liberal Democrats | Andrew Varney | ||
| Central | Labour | Farah Hussain | |
| Green | Ani Stafford-Townsend | ||
| Clifton | Green | Katy Grant | |
| Green | Paula O'Rourke | ||
| Clifton Down | Green | Carla Denyer | |
| Green | Tom Hathway | ||
| Cotham | Green | Mohamed Makawi | |
| Green | Guy Poultney | ||
| Easton | Green | Jenny Bartle | |
| Green | Barry Parsons | ||
| Eastville | Labour | Marley Bennett | |
| Green | Lorraine Francis | ||
| Filwood | Labour | Zoe Goodman | |
| Labour | Chris Jackson | ||
| Frome Vale | Conservative | Lesley Alexander | |
| Labour | Amal Ali | ||
| Hartcliffe & Withywood | Labour | Kerry Bailes | |
| Labour | Helen Holland | ||
| Labour | Paul Goggin | ||
| Henbury & Brentry | Conservative | Mark Weston | |
| Conservative | Chris Windows | ||
| Hengrove & Whitchurch Park | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Brown | |
| Liberal Democrats | Sarah Classick | ||
| Liberal Democrats | Tim Kent | ||
| Hillfields | Labour | Craig Cheney | |
| Labour | Ellie King | ||
| Horfield | Labour | Philippa Hulme | |
| Labour | Tom Renhard | ||
| Hotwells & Harbourside | Liberal Democrats | Alex Hartley | |
| Knowle | Knowle Community Party | Chris Davies | |
| Knowle Community Party | Gary Hopkins | ||
| Lawrence Hill | Labour | Hibaq Jama | |
| Green | Yassin Mohamud | ||
| Lockleaze | Green | Heather Mack | |
| Green | David Wilcox | ||
| Redland | Green | Martin Fodor | |
| Green | Fi Hance | ||
| Southmead | Labour | Kye Dudd | |
| Labour | Brenda Massey | ||
| Southville | Green | Tony Dyer | |
| Green | Christine Townsend | ||
| St George Central | Labour | Nicola Beech | |
| Labour | Steve Pearce | ||
| St George Troopers Hill | Labour | Fabian Breckels | |
| St George West | Labour | Asher Craig | |
| Stockwood | Conservative | Jonathan Hucker | |
| Conservative | Graham Morris | ||
| Stoke Bishop | Conservative | John Goulandris | |
| Conservative | Henry Michallat | ||
| Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze | Conservative | Geoff Gollop | |
| Conservative | Sharon Scott | ||
| Conservative | Steve Smith | ||
| Windmill Hill | Green | Ed Plowden | |
| Green | Lisa Stone | ||
Current Cabinet[]
The Cabinet is led by Mayor Marvin Rees and currently consists of eight members (including Rees). All Cabinet Members are currently part of the Labour Party.[25]
| Position | Party | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor; lead on Planning and City Design | Labour | Marvin Rees | |
| Deputy Mayor; Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Performance | Labour | Craig Cheney | |
| Deputy Mayor; Cabinet Member for Children Services, Education and Equalities | Labour | Asher Craig | |
| Cabinet Member for Public Health, Communities and Bristol One City | Labour | Ellie King | |
| Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Integrated Care System | Labour | Helen Holland | |
| Cabinet Member for Climate, Ecology, Waste and Energy | Labour | Nicola Beech | |
| Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes | Labour | Tom Renhard | |
| Cabinet Member for Transport | Labour | Don Alexander | |
Current Shadow Cabinet[]
After winning as many seats as Labour at the 2021 election but not winning the mayoral race, the Greens elected a Shadow Cabinet on 6 July 2021.[21][22]
| Portfolio | Party | Person | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opposition Leader, Finance, Governance and Performance | Green | Heather Mack | |
| Deputy Opposition Leader | Green | Lisa Stone | |
| Finance, Governance and Performance | Green | Katy Grant | |
| Planning and City Design | Green | Paula O'Rourke | |
| Transport and Active Travel | Green | David Wilcox | |
| Communities, Culture, Equalities and Public Health | Green | Barry Parsons | |
| Green | Ani Stafford-Townsend | ||
| Education, Families and Children’s Services | Green | Christine Townsend | |
| Adult Social Care | Green | Lorraine Francis | |
| Green | Tim Wye | ||
| Climate and Ecology | Green | Carla Denyer | |
| Green | Lily Fitzgibbon | ||
| Waste and Energy | Green | Martin Fodor | |
| Housing Delivery and Homes | Green | Tony Dyer | |
Mayor[]
On 3 May 2012, Bristol held a referendum to decide whether the city should have a directly elected mayor to replace the leader elected by councillors. The result was announced on 4 May. 41,032 voted for an elected mayor and 35,880 voted against, with a turnout of 24%.[2] The Lib Dems and Greens were publicly opposed to the introduction of a directly elected mayor, whilst Labour took a neutral stance and the Conservatives were the only party to support it.[26]
An election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,[3] with Independent candidate George Ferguson becoming the first Mayor of Bristol.
Ferguson was ousted at the 2016 election by Labour candidate Marvin Rees,[17] who was subsequently re-elected in the 2021.[20]
On 7 December 2022, the majority of opposition Councillors backed a legally binding motion to hold a referendum on the future of the role of the Elected Mayor of Bristol. The referendum, which will take place in May 2022, will offer Bristolians the choice of keeping an elected mayor or going back to the committee system of governance that was in place before Ferguson became the city’s first directly elected Mayor.[27][28]
Combined Authority[]
Since February 2017, Bristol has been part of the West of England Combined Authority. The Combined Authority was originally meant to cover the same area as the former county of Avon which existed between 1974 and 1996, but North Somerset Council rejected the proposal.[29] The Councils of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset agreed to proceed with the deal without North Somerset.[30][31]
The authority's functions, as specified by the West of England Combined Authority Order, mostly cover planning, skills and local transport.[32]
The first election for the position of Mayor of the West of England took place on 4 May 2017, and was won by Tim Bowles of the Conservatives with a total of 70,300 votes, including second preferences. The turnout was 29.7%, with 199,519 voting out of the possible 671,280.[33] The second election took place in 2021 and was won by Labour candidate and former MP for Wansdyke Dan Norris.[34]
The Cabinet of the Combined Authority consists of the leaders of all three constituent councils, plus the Mayor of the West of England.[35]
Westminster representation[]
No seats changed parties in 2019.
The names of parliamentary constituencies in Bristol were changed in 1885 when the original Bristol (UK Parliament constituency) was split into four and they were revised further in the 20th century.
There are now four Westminster constituencies that are part of Bristol proper—Bristol West, Bristol East, Bristol South and Bristol North West.
| Constituency | Party | Member | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol North West | Labour | Darren Jones | |
| Bristol East | Labour | Kerry McCarthy | |
| Bristol South | Labour | Karin Smyth | |
| Bristol West | Labour | Thangam Debbonaire | |
Parts of Greater Bristol outside the Bristol City Council administrative area, are covered by the Filton and Bradley Stoke and Kingswood constituencies in South Gloucestershire, the eponymous constituency of North Somerset in North Somerset, and North East Somerset in the authority of Bath and North East Somerset.
See also[]
- Bristol City Council elections
- 2010 United Kingdom general election results in Bristol
- History of local government in Bristol
- History of Bristol City Council
- List of Parliamentary constituencies in Avon
- Politics of the United Kingdom
References[]
- ^ "Sustainability: CREATE Centre". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ^ a b "The City of Bristol Mayoral Referendum result". Bristol City Council. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ a b "Directly Elected Mayor – What does it mean for Bristol?". Bristol City Council. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
- ^ Wilson, Kate (7 May 2020). "Bristol's next mayor will only serve three-year term after 2020 elections postponed". Bristol Post. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ "Bristol all-out council elections approved by councillors".
- ^ a b "Decision Making at Bristol City Council". Bristol City Council. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Bristol: Council leader battle resolved". BBC News. BBC. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
- ^ "Lib Dems take over as Labour quits Bristol City Council". Bristol Evening Post. 24 February 2009. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "Local Election Results 2010". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 7 May 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Bristol mayoral election won by independent George Ferguson". The Guardian. 16 November 2012.
- ^ "Vote 2013: Results for Bristol". BBC. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
- ^ "Liberal Democrats lose out in Bristol elections". BBC. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
- ^ "Bristol's only Independent Councillor joins Tories". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Bristol city council: Big Gains for the Greens". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
- ^ "Greens Gain a Councillor as Lib Dem Defects". Bristol247. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
- ^ a b "Labour wins majority on Bristol City Council". BBC News. 8 May 2016.
- ^ "Marvin Rees elected as new mayor of Bristol". Bristol24/7. 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Local elections postponed for a year over coronavirus". BBC News. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
- ^ a b "Elections 2021: Marvin Rees re-elected as Bristol mayor". BBC News. 9 May 2021.
- ^ a b Amanda Cameron (9 July 2021). "Bristol Greens announce shadow cabinet to challenge ruling Labour group". Bristol Live.
- ^ a b "Bristol Greens launch Shadow Cabinet". Bristol Green Party. 9 July 2021.
- ^ Booth, Martin (13 December 2021). "Longstanding Lib Dem Councillors' resignations throw party into turmoil". Bristol24-7. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
- ^ "Bristol Lib Dems: Councillors deny 'fraudulent' actions over cheque". BBC News. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
- ^ "The Mayor and Cabinet". Bristol City Council.
- ^ "'Palpably apathetic' Bristol voters will suffer elected mayor". Bristol 24/7. 4 January 2012. Archived from the original on 6 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
- ^ Cameron, Amanda (7 December 2021). "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". BBC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ Crawley, James (8 June 2016). "West of England devolution: North Somerset rejects metro mayor plan". Bath Chronicle.
- ^ "The West of England devolution deal". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
- ^ Crawley, James (29 June 2016). "BANES backs £1billion west of England devolution deal and metro mayor but will residents support it?". Bath Chronicale. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
- ^ "The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017". GOV.UK.
- ^ "Mayor of the West of England". BBC News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
- ^ "West of England metro mayor election 2021: Candidates, what does the metro mayor do and everything you need to know". Bristol Live. 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
- ^ "'Metro mayor' to run new West of England authority". ITV News. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol City Council. |
- Bristol City Council
- Parties: Conservative, Green, Labour, Liberal Democrat
- OpenlyLocal page on Bristol City Council
Video clips[]
- Politics of Bristol