Local election results: Green success but no majority

By Maud Humphries, News Digital Editor

On Thursday 2nd May Bristolians hit their local polling stations to cast their votes for the City Council and the Avon and Somerset Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections.

Key student areas including Redland, Cotham, Central, Clifton Down, Hotwells and Harbourside have all voted Green for local Councillors. However, the Stoke Bishop Ward was held by Conservatives.

Before yesterday's election, Labour had been in power of Bristol City Council since 2016. However, following yesterday's election results, Bristol as a Council area now has no party majority, with the Green party 34 out of 70 seats, just 1 seat off a majority, but an overall increase of +10 seats from 2021's election. Labour followed them with 21 seats - down 3 on 2021 - Liberal Democrats with 8, and Conservatives 7 having lost -7.

Results in key student areas:

Hotwells and Habourside: Green

Ex-UoB and Green Party's Patrick McAllister held the seat and extended their majority to 974 votes, on a turnout rate 39.75%.

Hotwells and Harbourside Labour candidate, Alex Bullett, 2nd year Politics and International Relations at University of Bristol, was 2nd behind the Green Party with 336 votes. Alex had a significant lead over the Conservative and Liberal Democrat Councillor candidates.

Redland: Green

Fi Hance and Martin Fodor retain their seats in Redland, with the Green party gaining 2826 and 2669 votes respectively, a significant lead over Labour who received 1405 and 1345. The turnout in Redland was notably high, at 48.28%.

Cotham: Green

Green Party's Mohamed Makawi and Guy Poultney retained their seats with 2056 and 2034 votes respectively. Labour came 2nd behind Green with 730 and 652 votes. Turnout in Cotham was 42%.

Clifton Down: Green

George Calascione and Serena Ralston were elected with 1705 and 1813 respectively and a large lead over the Labour in second place with 903 and 803. Turnout in Clifton Down was 41.36%.

Central: Green

Green candidates Ani Stafford-Townsend and Sibusiso Tshabalala have been elected with 1407 and 1242 votes respectively. This was closely contested with Labour who came a close 2nd with 1093 and 944 each. Turnout rate was low with 30.60%.

Stoke Bishop: Conservative

Conservative candidates John Goulandris and Henry Michallat won with 1639 and 1391 votes respectively. Green came 2nd with 641 and 692 votes. Stoke Bishop saw a turnout rate of 41%.

Other wards in Bristol, Westbury on Trym and Henleaze both swung from Tory strongholds to Liberal Democrats.

Bristol voted for Labour Party's Clare Moody as their Police and Crime Commissioner, Labour's first Bristol PCC. She narrowly beat her incumbent Conservative rival, Mark Shelford, with less than 5000 votes between them, with an overall low turnout of 23.09%.

As PCC Moody wants to prioritise strategy and budget for policing for Bristol, as well as ensuring that Sarah Crew, chief constable in Bristol, is held accountable.

In 2022, Bristol voted in a referendum to no longer have a mayor, meaning this is the first time since 2012 that Bristolians will not vote for a mayor. The council will now be controlled by a committee system which will see councillors govern by majority decisions, rather than Mayoral executive power.

Overall, the broader picture of the England and Wales local councillor results shows large gains for Labour at the expense of the Conservatives, who are set to lose nearly 500 seats.

The Greens and Liberal Democrats have also seen significant gains in council seats.

Featured Image: Charlie Watts - Bristol World UK

Did you vote in the City Council elections?