Mayor of Bristol#2012

{{main|History of local government in Bristol#Mayors}}

The Local Government Act 2000 required local authorities in England to move from the traditional committee-based system of decision making to one based on an executive, also allowing the possibility of a directly elected mayor.{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/22/contents|title=Local Government Act 2000|work=legislation.gov.uk|date=28 July 2000|access-date=8 May 2012}} The first directly elected mayor was in Greater London in 2000.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/uk_politics/2000/london_mayor/737242.stm|title=Ken's blow to New Labour|first=Nick|last=Assinder|publisher=BBC News|date=5 May 2000|location=London|access-date=13 May 2012}} Others followed in other authorities, including Hartlepool,{{cite web|url=http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/elected-mayors/|title=Elected Mayors|work=New Local Government Network|year=2012|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-date=20 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081220021247/http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/elected-mayors/|url-status=dead}} Middlesbrough, Tower Hamlets,{{cite web|url=http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/1001-1050/1002_mayor/meet_the_mayor.aspx|title=Meet the Mayor|work=London Borough of Tower Hamlets|year=2012|access-date=13 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120512201910/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/1001-1050/1002_mayor/meet_the_mayor.aspx|archive-date=12 May 2012|url-status=dead}} Liverpool{{cite web|url=http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/Mayoral-elections-2012/Why-a-mayor-for-Liverpool/|title=Why a mayor for Liverpool? –|publisher=Liverpool City Council|year=2012|access-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503044857/http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/Mayoral-elections-2012/Why-a-mayor-for-Liverpool/|archive-date=3 May 2012}} and Salford.{{cite web|url=http://www.salford.gov.uk/results.htm|title=Election results –|publisher=Salford City Council|year=2012|access-date=13 May 2012}}

Following the passage of The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012 by the United Kingdom Parliament in February 2012,{{cite web|url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/326/made|title=The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012|work=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=UK Parliament|date=8 February 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}} a referendum was announced for 3 May 2012.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17127505|title=Bristol elected mayor idea has been debated|last=Staff|publisher=BBC News|date=22 February 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}}

Nine other cities also held referendums on the same day:

Birmingham,{{Cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=324|si=The City of Birmingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Bradford,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=325|si=The City of Bradford (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Coventry,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=327|si=The City of Coventry (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Leeds,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=328|si=The City of Leeds (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Manchester,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=329|si=The City of Manchester (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Newcastle upon Tyne,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=330|si=The City of Newcastle upon Tyne (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Nottingham,{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=331|si=The City of Nottingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} Sheffield{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=332|si=The City of Sheffield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} and Wakefield.{{cite legislation UK|type=si|year=2012|number=333|si=The City of Wakefield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012}} In addition, Doncaster Borough Council voted to hold a referendum on the same day to decide whether or not to retain their existing elected mayoral system, having been one of the earliest authorities to adopt the mayoral system in 2001.{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/breaking_news_voters_to_decide_on_mayor_s_future_1_4161087|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914004403/http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/breaking_news_voters_to_decide_on_mayor_s_future_1_4161087|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2012|title=Voters to decide on mayor's future|work=The Star|date=15 May 2012}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17854687|title=English mayoral referendum results|last=Staff|publisher=BBC News|date=4 May 2012|access-date=16 May 2012}}

Campaigning groups supporting (A Mayor for Bristol){{cite web|url=http://www.bristolmayor.org/|title=A Mayor for Bristol|work=bristolmayor.org|year=2012|access-date=8 May 2012}} and opposing (Bristol Says No!){{cite web|url=http://bristolsaysno.org/|title=Bristol says NO! | vote no to an elected Mayor in the referendum|work=bristolsaysno.org|year=2012|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504025817/http://bristolsaysno.org/|archive-date=4 May 2012|url-status=dead}} an elected mayor were established. A debate organised by the University of Bristol took place in the Council House on 22 February 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2012/8244.html|title=Mayoral debate|publisher=Bristol University|date=16 February 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}}

During the campaign, there were complaints that many voters did not receive leaflets produced by the city council explaining what the referendum was about.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayor-referendum-leaflets-failing-drop/story-15837574-detail/story.html|title=Bristol mayor referendum leaflets failing to drop on mats|last=Staff|work=This Is Bristol|publisher=Northcliffe Media|date=17 April 2012|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419235057/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayor-referendum-leaflets-failing-drop/story-15837574-detail/story.html|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17726075|title=Mayoral referendum: Bristol council's call over leaflet|last=Staff|publisher=BBC News|date=5 April 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}} Cities minister, Greg Clark accused the council of inaccuracies in the leaflet and refused to cover the printing costs.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17561044|title=Bristol City Council mayoral leaflets 'not fair or balanced'|last=Staff|publisher=BBC News|date=5 April 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}} After Clark promised more powers would be available to Bristol with an elected mayor, the city council accused him of "blackmail".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17378955|title=Government accused of blackmail over Bristol elected mayor|last=Staff|publisher=BBC News|date=15 March 2012|access-date=8 May 2012}}

The result, declared on 4 May 2012 by returning officer Stephen McNamara and chaired by Jaya Chakrabarti,{{Cite web |date=2021-09-23 |title=Jaya Chakrabarti MBE announced as President of Bristol Chamber of Commerce & Initiative |url=https://www.businesswest.co.uk/blog/jaya-chakrabarti-mbe-announced-president-bristol-chamber-commerce-initiative |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Business West |language=en}} was in favour of creating the position. Bristol was the only one of the ten cities voting that day to choose to have an elected mayor.

{{Referendum

| title = Bristol Mayoral referendum
4 May 2012

| option1 = Elected Mayor

| yes = 41,032

| yespct = 53

| option2 = Cabinet System

| no = 35,880

| nopct = 47

| majorityneeded =

| valid =

| validpct =

| invalid =

| invalidpct =

| total = 76,912

| turnoutpct = 24

| turnoutneeded =

| electorate =

| source =

}}

On 7 December 2021, the majority of elected Councillors backed a legally binding motion to hold a referendum on the future of the role of the Elected Mayor of Bristol. In May 2022, the people of Bristol voted to abolish the role of mayor in the referendum, with a turnout of 28.6%.{{cite news|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/breaking-bristol-mayoral-referendum-held-6317751|title=Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022|last=Cameron|first=Amanda|date=7 December 2021|work=Bristol Post|access-date=30 December 2021}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-59570721|title=Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022|date=7 December 2021|publisher=BBC News|access-date=30 December 2021}} The position ceased to exist in 2024, at the end of Rees's second term.

{{Referendum

| title = Bristol Mayoral referendum
5 May 2022

| option1 = Committee System

| yes = 56,113

| yespct = 59

| option2 = Elected Mayor

| no = 38,439

| nopct = 41

| valid =

| validpct =

| invalid =

| invalidpct =

| total = 94,931

| electorate =

| turnoutpct = 28.59%

| turnoutneeded =

| majorityneeded =

| source = https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/bristol-votes-to-scrap-mayoral-model-of-governance/

}}

The first election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-s-elected-mayor-tackle-council-malaise/story-16013468-detail/story.html|title=Bristol's elected mayor will have to tackle 'council malaise'|last=Staff|work=This is Bristol|publisher=Northcliffe Media|date=7 May 2012|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505070608/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-s-elected-mayor-tackle-council-malaise/story-16013468-detail/story.html|archive-date=5 May 2013|url-status=dead}} the same day as elections for a police and crime commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/future-elections-bristol|title=Future elections in Bristol|publisher=Bristol City Council|year=2012|access-date=8 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221103300/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/future-elections-bristol|archive-date=21 February 2012}} A number of potential candidates expressed and interest in standing,{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayoral-election-Expect-flurry-hopefuls/story-16010158-detail/story.html|title=Bristol mayoral election: Expect a flurry of hopefuls|last=Staff|work=This is Bristol|publisher=Northcliffe Media|date=5 May 2012|access-date=8 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120717164615/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayoral-election-Expect-flurry-hopefuls/story-16010158-detail/story.html|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead}} and 15 candidates stood for election to be mayor.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/candidates|title=Candidates and campaign groups|publisher=Bristol City Council|year=2012|access-date=13 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120506043859/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/candidates|archive-date=6 May 2012}}

The supplementary vote system is used for the elections, with each voter being entitled to list a first and second choice candidate. In this system if no candidate has more than half of the votes plus one in the first round of counting, all candidates other than the top two are eliminated and voters' second choices from the eliminated candidates are then allocated to the remaining candidates. The second election for mayor of Bristol took place in May 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/council-and-democracy/future-elections-bristol|title=Future elections in Bristol|publisher=Bristol City Council|year=2014|access-date=17 February 2014}}

{{Election box supplementary vote begin

| title = Bristol Mayoral Election 15 November 2012

| source=

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Bristol 1st

|candidate = George Ferguson

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=31321| r1votespercent=35.13 | r2votes=6032 |totalpercent=52.94%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Marvin Rees

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=25896| r1votespercent=29.05 | r2votes=5363 |totalpercent=47.06%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Geoff Gollop

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=8136| r1votespercent=9.13

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Jon Rogers

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=6202| r1votespercent=6.96

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Daniella Radice

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=5248| r1votespercent=5.89

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Owain George

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=2404| r1votespercent=2.70

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Spud Murphy

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=1855| r1votespercent=2.08

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Respect Party

|candidate = Neil Maggs

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=1568| r1votespercent=1.76

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Stoney Garnett

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=1413| r1votespercent=1.58

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

|candidate = Tom Baldwin

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=1412| r1votespercent=1.58

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Tim Collins

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=1037| r1votespercent=1.16

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Philip Pover

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=994| r1votespercent=1.11

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Tony Britt

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=761| r1votespercent=0.85

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Independent politician

|candidate = Rich Fisher

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=494| r1votespercent=0.55

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = The Birthday Party

|candidate = Dave Dobbs

| fullwidthvotes=37353 | r1votes=411| r1votespercent=0.46

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote win

|winner = Bristol 1st

|swing =

}}

{{Election box end}}

Turnout at the election was 27.92%.

{{Election box supplementary vote begin

| title = Bristol Mayoral Election 5 May 2016{{cite web|url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/voting-elections/mayoral-election-stage-1-count-results|title=Mayoral Election stage 1 count results|publisher=Bristol City Council|year=2016|access-date=2017-08-25}}

| source=

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Labour Party (UK)

|candidate = Marvin Rees

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=56729 | r1votespercent=40.4 | r2votes=12021 |totalpercent=62.5%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Bristol 1st

|candidate = George Ferguson

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=32375 | r1votespercent=23.1 | r2votes=7202 |totalpercent=37.5%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Conservative Party (UK)

|candidate = Charles Lucas

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=19617 | r1votespercent=14.0

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Green Party of England and Wales

|candidate = Tony Dyer

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=10000 | r1votespercent=7.1

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

|candidate = Kay Barnard

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=8078 | r1votespercent=5.8

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = UK Independence Party

|candidate = Paul Anthony Turner

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=7115 | r1votespercent=5.1

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

|party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

|candidate = Tom Baldwin

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=1876 | r1votespercent=1.3

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = Stoney Garnett

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=1384 | r1votespercent=1.0

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = Christine Charlotte Townsend

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=1010 | r1votespercent=0.7

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = Tony Britt

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=877 | r1votespercent=0.6

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = Paul Anthony Saville

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=545 | r1votespercent=0.4

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = John Langley

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=367 | r1votespercent=0.3

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

|party = Independent

|candidate = Mayor Festus Kudehinbu

| fullwidthvotes=56729 | r1votes=341 | r1votespercent=0.2

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote gain

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

|loser = Bristol 1st

}}

{{Election box end}}

Turnout in the election was 44.87%.

Because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, elections for the mayor of Bristol were delayed from 2020 to May 2021. The mayoral term following these elections was shortened by a year.{{cite news|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristols-next-mayor-only-serve-4111062|title=Bristol's next mayor will only serve three-year term after 2020 elections postponed|last=Wilson|first=Kate|newspaper=Bristol Post|date=7 May 2020|access-date=16 May 2020}}

{{Election box supplementary vote begin

| title = Bristol Mayoral Election 6 May 2021

| source ={{cite web|title=Mayoral Election Stage 1 Count Results|url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/mayoral-election-stage-1-count-results|website=bristol.gov.uk|publisher=Bristol City Council|access-date=8 May 2021}}

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Labour Party (UK)

| candidate = Marvin Rees

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 50510

| r1votespercent = 36.3

| r2votes = 8766

| totalpercent = 56.5%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Green Party of England and Wales

| candidate = Sandy Hore-Ruthven

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 36331

| r1votespercent = 26.1

| r2votes = 9332

| totalpercent = 43.5%

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Conservative Party (UK)

| candidate = Alastair Watson

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 25816

| r1votespercent = 18.6

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Liberal Democrats (UK)

| candidate = Caroline Gooch

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 15517

| r1votespercent = 11.2

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Independent politician

| candidate = Sean Donnelly

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 4956

| r1votespercent = 3.6

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition

| candidate = Tom Baldwin

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 3194

| r1votespercent = 2.3

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Independent politician

| candidate = John Langley

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 1528

| r1votespercent = 1.1

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate with party link

| party = Reform UK

| candidate = Robert Clarke

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 806

| r1votespercent = 0.6

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote candidate

| party = Independent

| candidate = Oska Shaw

| fullwidthvotes = 59276

| r1votes = 389

| r1votespercent = 0.3

}}

{{Election box supplementary vote hold

|winner = Labour Party (UK)

}}

{{Election box end}}

Turnout at the election was 41.15%.{{cite web|url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/voting-elections/local-elections-thursday-6-may-2021/mayor-turnout|title=Mayoral election 2021 turnout|author=|date=2021-05-08|publisher=Bristol City Council|access-date=2021-05-08}}

{{See also|List of mayors of Bristol}}

• Politics of Bristol
• Mayor of the West of England

{{reflist}}

{{Directly elected mayors in the United Kingdom}}

{{United Kingdom local elections, 2016}}

Category:Local government in Bristol

Bristol

Category:2012 establishments in England

Category:2024 disestablishments in England