Politics of Bristol#City Council

{{Update|section|date=May 2024}}

{{further|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.{{cite news|title=Bristol all-out council elections approved by councillors|publisher=BBC News |date=5 March 2013 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-21673626}}

The full council of 70 councillors has ultimate responsibility for establishing the decision-making process and approving the council's budget and policy framework.{{cite web

|url = https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-mayor/how-council-decisions-are-made

|title = Decision Making at Bristol City Council

|publisher = Bristol City Council

|date = 5 December 2008

|accessdate = 19 August 2018

}} 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.{{cite web

|url = https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/lord-mayor-of-bristol

|title = Lord Mayor of Bristol

|publisher = Bristol City Council

|date = 3 November 2009

|accessdate = 19 August 2018

}}

{{main|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.{{cite news|last1=Crawley|first1=James|title=West of England devolution: North Somerset rejects metro mayor plan|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/west-england-devolution-north-somerset-rejects/story-29374973-detail/story.html|work=Bath Chronicle|date=8 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} The Councils of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset agreed to proceed with the deal without North Somerset.{{cite web |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/policies-plans-strategies/the-west-of-england-devolution-deal |title=The West of England devolution deal |publisher=Bristol City Council |access-date=6 November 2016}}{{cite news|last1=Crawley|first1=James|title=BANES backs £1billion west of England devolution deal and metro mayor but will residents support it?|url=http://www.bathchronicle.co.uk/banes-backs-1billion-devolution-deal-for-combined-authority-and-metro-mayor/story-29459616-detail/story.html|access-date=15 September 2016|work=Bath Chronicale|date=29 June 2016}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

The authority's functions, as specified by the West of England Combined Authority Order, mostly cover planning, skills and local transport.{{cite web|title=The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017|url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/126/made|website=GOV.UK}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/topics/6a80004c-c5cc-410c-a925-aac236d98167/mayor-of-the-west-of-england|title=Mayor of the West of England|date=5 May 2017|publisher=BBC News|accessdate=5 May 2017}} The second election took place in 2021 and was won by Labour candidate and former MP for Wansdyke Dan Norris.{{cite web |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/west-england-metro-mayor-election-5295487|title= West of England metro mayor election 2021: Candidates, what does the metro mayor do and everything you need to know|work= Bristol Live|year=2021|access-date=17 April 2021}} Helen Godwin, for the Labour party, was elected the next mayor on 1 May 2025.{{cite news |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-05-02/labours-helen-godwin-elected-new-west-of-england-mayor |title=Labour's Helen Godwin elected new West of England Mayor |last=McDaid |first=Lucy |work=ITV News |date=2 May 2025 |access-date=2 May 2025}}

The cabinet of the Combined Authority consists of the leaders of all three constituent councils, plus the Mayor of the West of England.{{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2016-11-15/metro-mayor-to-run-new-west-of-england-authority/ |title='Metro mayor' to run new West of England authority |date=15 November 2016 |publisher=ITV News |access-date=11 December 2016}}

File:Bristol UK general election 2017 map.svg.]] 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.{{Cite web |title=Revised proposals for new Parliamentary constituency boundaries in the South West region {{!}} Boundary Commission for England |url=https://boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk/2023-review/south-west/revised-proposals-for-new-parliamentary-constituency-boundaries-in-the-south-west-region/ |access-date=9 December 2022 |website=boundarycommissionforengland.independent.gov.uk}}

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.

{{main|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.{{cite news|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/6682343.stm|title= Bristol: Council leader battle resolved|publisher=BBC News|date=22 May 2007|accessdate=18 April 2010

}} 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.{{cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Lib-Dems-Bristol-City-Council/article-724759-detail/article.html|title=Lib Dems take over as Labour quits Bristol City Council|work=Bristol Evening Post|date=24 February 2009|accessdate=25 February 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228050622/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Lib-Dems-Bristol-City-Council/article-724759-detail/article.html|archive-date=28 February 2009|url-status=dead}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/elections/?XSL=main&ShowCouncillorsElected=true&ElectionId=64|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121223161345/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/elections/?XSL=main&ShowCouncillorsElected=true&ElectionId=64|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 December 2012|title=Local Election Results 2010|publisher=Bristol City Council|accessdate=7 May 2010}} 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.{{cite news|title=Bristol mayoral election won by independent George Ferguson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/nov/16/bristol-mayoral-election-independent-red-trousers|work=The Guardian|date=16 November 2012}}

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.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21840001|title= Vote 2013: Results for Bristol|publisher= BBC|date= 29 April 2013|accessdate=3 May 2013}} 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.{{cite news|url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-27534302|title= Liberal Democrats lose out in Bristol elections|publisher= BBC|date= 23 May 2014|accessdate=24 May 2014}} In March 2015, the only Independent Councillor on Bristol City Council joined the Conservatives, bringing their total up to 16.{{cite web|url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-s-Independent-councillor-joins-Tories/story-26161517-detail/story.html|title=Bristol's only Independent Councillor joins Tories|work= Bristol Post|accessdate=12 March 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314231137/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-s-Independent-councillor-joins-Tories/story-26161517-detail/story.html|archivedate=14 March 2015}}

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.{{cite web|url= http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-city-council-elections-Big-gains-Greens/story-26466123our-detail/story.html|title= Bristol city council: Big Gains for the Greens|work= Bristol Post|accessdate= 8 May 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150509160849/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-city-council-elections-Big-gains-Greens/story-26466123-detail/story.html|archive-date= 9 May 2015|url-status= dead}} 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.{{cite web|url= http://www.bristol247.com/channel/news-comment/daily/politics/greens-gain-a-councillor-as-lib-dem-defects|title= Greens Gain a Councillor as Lib Dem Defects|work= Bristol247|date= 21 May 2015|accessdate=22 May 2015}}

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.{{cite news|title=Labour wins majority on Bristol City Council|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-36241326|publisher=BBC News|date=8 May 2016}} Labour candidate elected Mayor, ousting incumbent George Ferguson.{{cite news|title=Marvin Rees elected as new mayor of Bristol|url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/mayor-election-2016/marvin-rees-elected-as-new-mayor-of-bristol/|work=Bristol24/7|date=7 May 2016}}

Because the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election was postponed until May 2021.{{cite news |title=Local elections postponed for a year over coronavirus |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51876269 |accessdate=13 March 2020 |publisher=BBC News |date=13 March 2020}} 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.{{cite news|title=Elections 2021: Marvin Rees re-elected as Bristol mayor|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-57043534|publisher=BBC News|date=9 May 2021}} In July 2021, the Greens elected a Shadow Cabinet to rival Labour.{{cite web|title=Bristol Greens announce shadow cabinet to challenge ruling Labour group|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-greens-announce-shadow-cabinet-5633876|website=Bristol Live|author=Amanda Cameron|date=9 July 2021}}{{cite web|title=Bristol Greens launch Shadow Cabinet|url=https://bristolgreenparty.org.uk/bristol-greens-launch-shadow-cabinet/|website=Bristol Green Party|date=9 July 2021}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/longstanding-lib-dem-councillors-resignations-throw-party-into-turmoil/|title=Longstanding Lib Dem Councillors' resignations throw party into turmoil|last=Booth|first=Martin|date=13 December 2021|work=Bristol24-7|accessdate=16 December 2021}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-60073202 |title=Bristol Lib Dems: Councillors deny 'fraudulent' actions over cheque |publisher=BBC News |date=21 January 2022 |access-date=19 February 2022}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/voting-and-elections/by-election-hotwells-and-harbourside |title=By-election Hotwells and Harbourside |publisher=Bristol City Council |access-date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203102416/https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/voting-and-elections/by-election-hotwells-and-harbourside |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite news |url=https://thebristolcable.org/2023/02/green-party-wins-bristol-by-election-race-becoming-largest-party-on-city-council/ |title=Green Party wins Bristol by-election race, becoming largest party on city council |work=The Bristol Cable |date=3 February 2023 |first=Alex |last=Seabrook |access-date=3 February 2023}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/labour-councillor-resigns-party-palestine-policy/|title=LABOUR COUNCILLOR RESIGNS OVER PARTY'S PALESTINE POLICY|last=Booth|first=Martin|date=13 December 2023|work=Bristol24/7|accessdate=13 December 2023}}

File:Marvin Rees, 2016 Labour Party Conference 1.jpg, Mayor of Bristol from 2016 to 2024]]

{{main|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%.{{cite web |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/625 |title=The City of Bristol Mayoral Referendum result |publisher=Bristol City Council |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=4 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120513110218/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/625 |archivedate=13 May 2012 }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.bristol247.com/2012/01/04/palpably-apathetic-bristol-voters-will-suffer-elected-mayor-45481/ |title='Palpably apathetic' Bristol voters will suffer elected mayor |publisher=Bristol 24/7 |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=11 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106040307/http://www.bristol247.com/2012/01/04/palpably-apathetic-bristol-voters-will-suffer-elected-mayor-45481/ |archive-date=6 January 2014 |url-status=dead }}

An election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,{{cite web |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/11470 |title=Directly Elected Mayor – What does it mean for Bristol? |publisher=Bristol City Council |date=4 May 2012 |accessdate=4 May 2012}} with Independent candidate George Ferguson becoming the first Mayor of Bristol.

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

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.{{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|accessdate=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|accessdate=30 December 2021}}

Subsequently, on 5 May 2022, the city voted to abolish the position in the referendum, replacing it with a committee system in May 2024.{{cite news |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-61336049 | publisher=BBC News |title=Bristol Mayor Vote: Voters Decide to Abolish Mayor Post|date=6 May 2022 |access-date=6 May 2022}}

• 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

{{reflist}}

{{commons category|Bristol City Council}}

• [http://www.bristol.gov.uk Bristol City Council]