Mary Page, a specialist in Media, Comms, PR and Marketing, has recently been announced as the Green Party candidate for the upcoming West of England Combined Authority (WECA) Mayoral election. This announcement follows the Labour Party’s selection of Helen Godwin, and the Conservatives' selection of candidate Steve Smith, at the end of last year.
By Josie Hodgson, News Co-Editor
Page’s candidacy came about after Heather Mack, Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council, stepped down to focus on her council responsibilities.
In her announcement, Page expressed gratitude to Mack for her contributions to the campaign, and outlined her vision for the region.
She stated:
“It’s my pleasure and honour to be the Green Party candidate in the West of England mayoral campaign. [...] Labour is just not delivering the practical, positive changes that are so desperately needed to make people’s lives easier day to day. We need housing that builds rather than breaks communities, opportunities to train and upskill for permanent, quality jobs, and sustainable transport for both cities and rural areas. The Green Party is committed to those things, and that’s why I am so delighted to be representing us in this campaign.”
Page previously ran for the Green Party in the Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston ward during the May 2024 city council elections, and also served as the party’s parliamentary candidate for Bristol North West in the July 2024 General Election, where she secured a second-place finish behind Labour.
Page’s career spans roles with the UK Government’s National Composites Centre, the Department of Work and Pensions, Jobs 22, South Gloucestershire Council, and the BBC, alongside various media outlets. A former Lib Dem, she also led the successful “It’s Our City Bristol” campaign, which secured the 2022 referendum to abolish the directly elected Bristol mayoral system. She described this victory as “the first leg of a journey to transform our local and regional democratic systems.”
The current Labour WECA Mayor, Dan Norris - elected in 2021 - will not seek re-election, due to his recent election as North East Somerset and Hanham MP, following Labour Party rules prohibiting dual mandates. Instead, Labour has selected Helen Godwin, a former Bristol City Council cabinet member, as their candidate for the upcoming election.
Godwin has a background in local government, playing a key role in supporting initiatives aimed at improving affordable housing, promoting sustainable development, and addressing issues of inequality. As Labour’s candidate, Godwin will be advocating for continued investment into public services and infrastructure across the West of England.
Another candidate in the race is Steve Smith, representing the Conservative Party. Smith was the first official nominee to be announced, back in November 2024. His campaign focuses on enhancing connectivity, supporting businesses, and promoting regional investments for sustainable economic growth. Smith has pledged to restore "grown-up leadership" to the combined authority, and stimulate economic development across the region.
As of January 14 2025, the Liberal Democrats have not yet announced their candidate for the WECA election scheduled for May 1, 2025. The party has previously fielded candidates in the 2021 election, where Stephen Williams represented them.
The WECA oversees strategic governance across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and Bath and North East Somerset, focusing on key areas such as planning, transport and housing. Independent auditors have highlighted concerns regarding the organisation's governance and its inability to deliver value for money (VfM), though the combined authority has made efforts to address these issues.
In the last WECA mayoral election in 2021, Labour won, with 33% of the vote, followed by the Conservatives with 29%, and finally, the Green Party, securing 22% support. Whilst the mean turnout for WECA mayoral elections is at a mere 33.16%, the election will still be an important reflection of local political sentiment and voter engagement in the region. The results will indicate public priorities, confidence in leadership, and the effectiveness of campaign strategies.
To find out more about this election and how it works, visit: https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/west-england-combined-authority-weca-elections.
