Politics of Bristol

Overview of the politics of Bristol

Bristol City Hall.

The city of Bristol, England, is a unitary authority, represented by four MPs representing seats wholly within the city boundaries. The overall trend of both local and national representation became left of centre during the latter 20th century. The city has a tradition of local activism, with environmental issues and sustainable transport[1] being prominent issues in the city.

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.

## City Council

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This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (May 2024)

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Further information: Bristol City Council elections

The City of Bristol is a ceremonial county governed by a unitary authority; Bristol City Council. The city is divided into 34 wards, which each elect one, two or three councillors (depending on the population of the ward) for a four-year term. The whole council is elected every four years.[2]

The full council of 70 councillors has ultimate responsibility for establishing the decision-making process and approving the council's budget and policy framework.[3] 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.[4]

### Composition and control

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#### Current councillors

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Party  | Councillors

|

| Green | 34
| Labour | 21
| Liberal Democrats | 8
| Conservative | 7
Ward  | Party  | Councillor

|
|

Ashley  |  | Green | Izzy Russell
| Green | Abdul Malik
| Green | Tim Wye
Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston  |  | Labour | Donald Alexander
| Labour | Zoe Peat
| Labour | Tom Blenkinsop
Bedminster  |  | Labour | Emily Clark
| Green | Ellie Freeman
Bishopston & Ashley Down  |  | Green | Emma Edwards
| Green | James Crawford
Bishopsworth  |  | Conservative | Richard Eddy
| Labour | Susan Kollar
Brislington East  |  | Labour | Katja Hornchen
| Labour | Tim Rippington
Brislington West  |  | Liberal Democrats | Jos Clark
| Liberal Democrats | Andrew Varney
Central  |  | Green | Sibusiso Hussain
| Green | Ani Stafford-Townsend
Clifton  |  | Green | Jerome Thomas
| Green | Paula O'Rourke
Clifton Down  |  | Green | George Calascione
| Green | Serena Ralston
Cotham  |  | Green | Mohamed Makawi
| Green | Guy Poultney
Easton  |  | Green | Jenny Bartle
| Green | Barry Parsons
Eastville  |  | Green | Ed Fraser
| Green | Lorraine Francis
Filwood  |  | Labour | Lisa Durston
| Labour | Rob Logan
Frome Vale  |  | Labour | Louis Martin
| Labour | Al Al-Maghrabi
Hartcliffe & Withywood  |  | Labour | Kerry Bailes
| Labour | Kirsty Tait
| Labour | Paul Goggin
Henbury & Brentry  |  | Conservative | Mark Weston
| Conservative | Bador Uddin
Hengrove & Whitchurch Park  |  | Liberal Democrats | Andrew Brown
| Liberal Democrats | Sarah Classick
| Liberal Democrats | Tim Kent
Hillfields  |  | Labour | Kelvin Blake
| Labour | Ellie King
Horfield  |  | Labour | Carole Johnson
| Labour | Tom Renhard
Hotwells & Harbourside  |  | Green | Patrick McAllister
Knowle  |  | Green | Toby Wells
| Green | Cam Hayward
Lawrence Hill  |  | Green | Shona Jemphrey
| Green | Yassin Mohamud
Lockleaze  |  | Green | Heather Mack
| Green | David Wilcox
Redland  |  | Green | Martin Fodor
| Green | Fi Hance
Southmead  |  | Labour | Kye Dudd
| Labour | Kaz Self
Southville  |  | Green | Tony Dyer
| Green | Christine Townsend
St George Central  |  | Green | Abi Finch
| Green | Cara Lavan
St George Troopers Hill  |  | Labour | Fabian Breckels
St George West  |  | Green | Rob Bryher
Stockwood  |  | Conservative | Jonathan Hucker
| Conservative | Graham Morris
Stoke Bishop  |  | Conservative | John Goulandris
| Conservative | Henry Michallat
Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze  |  | Liberal Democrats | Stephen Williams
| Liberal Democrats | Nicholas Coombes
| Liberal Democrats | Caroline Gooch
Windmill Hill  |  | Green | Ed Plowden
| Green | Lisa Stone

## Combined Authority

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Main article: West of England Combined Authority

Since February 2017, Bristol has been part of the West of England Combined Authority. It 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.[5] The Councils of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset agreed to proceed with the deal without North Somerset.[6][7]

The authority's functions, as specified by the West of England Combined Authority Order, mostly cover planning, skills and local transport.[8]

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.[9] The second election took place in 2021 and was won by Labour candidate and former MP for Wansdyke Dan Norris.[10] Helen Godwin, for the Labour party, was elected the next mayor on 1 May 2025.[11]

The cabinet of the Combined Authority consists of the leaders of all three constituent councils, plus the Mayor of the West of England.[12]

## Westminster representation

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Bristol constituencies following the 2017 general election.

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.

As of the 2019 election, there were four Westminster constituencies that were part of Bristol proper—Bristol West, Bristol East, Bristol South and Bristol North West.

The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies proposes to abolish Bristol West and re-establish the seats of Bristol Central and Bristol North East.[13]

Current constituencies in Bristol by holding party 2023  Constituency  | Party  | Member

|
|

Bristol North West |  | Labour | Darren Jones
Bristol East |  | Labour | Kerry McCarthy
Bristol South |  | Labour | Karin Smyth
Bristol West |  | Labour | Thangam Debbonaire
Historic constituencies in Bristol    | 1295–1885 | 1885–1918 | 1918–1950 | 1950–1974 | 1974–1983 | 1983—

|
|
|
|
|
|

Bristol | 1295–1885 |
Bristol North |   | 1885–1950 |
Bristol East |   | 1885–1950 |   | 1983—
Bristol Central |   | 1918 – 1974 |
Bristol North East |   | 1950:1983 |
Bristol North West |   | 1950–
Bristol South |   | 1885–
Bristol South East |   | 1950:1983 |
Bristol West |   | 1885–

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.

## History

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Main article: History of local government in Bristol

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.[14] 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.[15]

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 six.[16] In 2011, they lost their majority leading to a hung council.

In 2012, the inaugural 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.[17]

The 2013 local elections, in which a third of the city's wards were up for election, saw Labour gain seven seats and the Green party double their seats from two to four while the Liberal Democrats suffered a loss of ten seats.[18] These trends were continued into the next election in May 2014, in which Labour gained three seats to take their total to 31, the Green Party built on their success by winning two more seats, the Conservatives gained one seat and UKIP won their first ever seat on the council. In another damaging result, the Lib Dems lost a further seven seats.[19] In March 2015, the only Independent Councillor on Bristol City Council joined the Conservatives, bringing their total up to 16.[20]

In May 2015, the Green Party continued to increase their number of seats, winning seven new seats (five from the Lib Dems and two from Labour) and becoming the third largest party on the council, with the Lib Dems now in fourth. Labour also gained a new seat at the expense of the Lib Dems.[21] 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.[22]

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 2016 election saw Labour gain seven seats and in turn regained overall control of the council, with the Conservatives, Greens and Lib Dems all losing two seats and UKIP losing their only seat.[23] Labour candidate [[Marvin Rees was also elected Mayor, ousting incumbent George Ferguson.[24]

Because the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election was postponed until May 2021.[25] 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.[26] In July 2021, the Greens elected a Shadow Cabinet to rival Labour.[27][28] The Liberal Democrats originally gained eigh 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.[29][30]

In December 2022, Alex Hartley, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Hotwells and Harbourside, resigned, triggering a by-election that was held on 2 February 2023.[31] The by-election was won by the Green Party candidate, Patrick McAllister; elevating the Greens to the largest party on the council for the first time.[32]

On 12 December 2023, Labour councillor for Filwood, Zoe Goodman resigned from the Labour Party over its response to what she called "the genocide in Gaza", becoming an independent councillor.[33]

### Mayor

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Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol from 2016 to 2024

Main article: Mayor of Bristol

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 41,032 for an elected mayor and 35,880 against, with a turnout of 24%.[34] 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.[35]

An election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,[36] with Independent candidate George Ferguson becoming the first Mayor of Bristol.

Ferguson was ousted at the 2016 election by Labour candidate Marvin Rees,[23] who was subsequently re-elected in the 2021.[26]

On 7 December 2021, 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 took place in May 2022, offered 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.[37][38]

Subsequently, on 5 May 2022, the city voted to abolish the position in the referendum, replacing it with a committee system in May 2024.[39]

## See also

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* Bristol City Council elections
* 2010 United Kingdom general election results in Bristol
* History of local government in Bristol
* History of Bristol City Council
* Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner
* List of parliamentary constituencies in Avon
* Politics of the United Kingdom

## References

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1. ^ "Sustainability: CREATE Centre". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
2. ^ "Bristol all-out council elections approved by councillors". BBC News. 5 March 2013.
3. ^ "Decision Making at Bristol City Council". Bristol City Council. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
4. ^ "Lord Mayor of Bristol". Bristol City Council. 3 November 2009. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
5. ^ Crawley, James (8 June 2016). "West of England devolution: North Somerset rejects metro mayor plan". Bath Chronicle.[permanent dead link]
6. ^ "The West of England devolution deal". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
7. ^ 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.[permanent dead link]
8. ^ "The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017". GOV.UK.
9. ^ "Mayor of the West of England". BBC News. 5 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
10. ^ "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.
11. ^ McDaid, Lucy (2 May 2025). "Labour's Helen Godwin elected new West of England Mayor". ITV News. Retrieved 2 May 2025.
12. ^ "'Metro mayor' to run new West of England authority". ITV News. 15 November 2016. Retrieved 11 December 2016.
13. ^ "Revised proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the South West region | Boundary Commission for England". boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
14. ^ "Bristol: Council leader battle resolved". BBC News. 22 May 2007. Retrieved 18 April 2010.
15. ^ "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.
16. ^ "Local Election Results 2010". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 23 December 2012. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
17. ^ "Bristol mayoral election won by independent George Ferguson". The Guardian. 16 November 2012.
18. ^ "Vote 2013: Results for Bristol". BBC. 29 April 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2013.
19. ^ "Liberal Democrats lose out in Bristol elections". BBC. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2014.
20. ^ "Bristol's only Independent Councillor joins Tories". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 14 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
21. ^ "Bristol city council: Big Gains for the Greens". Bristol Post. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
22. ^ "Greens Gain a Councillor as Lib Dem Defects". Bristol247. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2015.
23. ^ a b "Labour wins majority on Bristol City Council". BBC News. 8 May 2016.
24. ^ "Marvin Rees elected as new mayor of Bristol". Bristol24/7. 7 May 2016.
25. ^ "Local elections postponed for a year over coronavirus". BBC News. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
26. ^ a b "Elections 2021: Marvin Rees re-elected as Bristol mayor". BBC News. 9 May 2021.
27. ^ Amanda Cameron (9 July 2021). "Bristol Greens announce shadow cabinet to challenge ruling Labour group". Bristol Live.
28. ^ "Bristol Greens launch Shadow Cabinet". Bristol Green Party. 9 July 2021.
29. ^ Booth, Martin (13 December 2021). "Longstanding Lib Dem Councillors' resignations throw party into turmoil". Bristol24-7. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
30. ^ "Bristol Lib Dems: Councillors deny 'fraudulent' actions over cheque". BBC News. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 19 February 2022.
31. ^ "By-election Hotwells and Harbourside". Bristol City Council. Archived from the original on 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
32. ^ Seabrook, Alex (3 February 2023). "Green Party wins Bristol by-election race, becoming largest party on city council". The Bristol Cable. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
33. ^ Booth, Martin (13 December 2023). "LABOUR COUNCILLOR RESIGNS OVER PARTY'S PALESTINE POLICY". Bristol24/7. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
34. ^ "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.
35. ^ "'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.
36. ^ "Directly Elected Mayor – What does it mean for Bristol?". Bristol City Council. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 4 May 2012.
37. ^ Cameron, Amanda (7 December 2021). "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". Bristol Post. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
38. ^ "Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022". BBC News. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
39. ^ "Bristol Mayor Vote: Voters Decide to Abolish Mayor Post". BBC News. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 6 May 2022.

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bristol City Council.

* Bristol City Council