2021 Bristol City Council election

The 2021 Bristol City Council election is due to take place during 2021, alongside nationwide local elections. Voters in the city will also vote for the Mayor of Bristol, the Mayor of West of England and for Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner. The election was originally due to take place in May 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1]

2021 Bristol City Council election

6 May 2021

All 70 seats to Bristol City Council
36 seats needed for a majority
 
Leader Marg Hickman Mark Weston
Party Labour Conservative
Leader's seat Lawrence Hill Henbury and Brentry
Current seats 37 14
Seats needed 22

 
Leader Eleanor Combley Gary Hopkins
Party Green Liberal Democrats
Leader's seat Bishopston and Ashley Down Knowle
Current seats 11 9
Seats needed 25 27

Incumbent Council control

Labour Party (UK)


Background

Since the 2016 local elections, there have been a few changes to the political make up of the Council. In 2016, Labour briefly lost control of the Council after expelling a number of its councillors.[2] Labour regained control of the Council later that year after it readmitted them. On 24 May 2018, a by-election was held in Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze ward, resulting in the Conservatives gaining a seat from the Liberal Democrats.[3] On 22 March 2019, Eastville Councillor Sultan Khan resigned from the Labour Party, but continued to represent the ward as an Independent before joining the Liberal Democrats.[4] On 17 July 2019, Brislington East Councillor Tony Carey resigned from the Conservative Party, but continued to represent the ward as an Independent before joining the Liberal Democrats[5] A by-election took place in Brislington East on 16 January 2020 after the death of Labour councillor Mike Langley, he was succeeded by Labour candidate Tim Rippington.[6][7]

In preparation for the election, political parties went through their selection processes. The Conservative party face controversy after the party deselected Peter Abraham, the council's longest serving councillor having been first elected in 1966 in the Stockwood ward, The local party did not state a reason for this decision.[8] The Labour group in the city is seeing 17 of its backbench councillors standing down; 20 councillors, including all of the cabinet, are seeking re-election.[9]

For the candidates for the Mayoral election: Marvin Rees was re-selected as Labour's candidate;[10] Sandy Hore-Ruthven was announced as the Green party's candidate,[11] Mary Page from the Liberal Democrats and Samuel Williams as the Conservative candidate.[12]

Local political protest in the year prior to the election

In June 2020 a series of protests occurred across the United Kingdom focused on racial injustice and disproportionate policing of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnicity (BAME) people across the UK. Starting in the United States, the protests were catalysed by the killing of George Floyd by the hands of police officers using unsafe restraint in the city of Minneapolis. On Sunday 7 June Black Lives Matter UK and Unite Against Fascism organised a protest in Bristol, which was attended by 10,000 people.[13] During the protest the Statue of Edward Colston was torn down and thrown into Bristol Harbour. The Statue of Colston, a slaver trader, has stood in Bristol since 1895 and has been subject to continuous controversy and petitions for its removal.[14] Mayor Rees responded to the action by saying "As an elected politician, obviously I cannot condone the damage and I am very concerned about the implications of a mass gathering on the possibility of a second Covid wave [...] But I am of Jamaican heritage and I cannot pretend that I have any real sense of loss for the statue, and I cannot pretend it was anything other than a personal affront to me to have it in the middle of Bristol, the city in which I grew up."[15] Conservative councillor Richard Eddy condemned this action, describing Colston as a "hero".[16] Rees stated he wants to see "a conversation" develop around Colston's history in the city and discuss its future.[13]

Campaign

Conservative mayoral candidate Williams was critical of Rees's pursuit of Bristol Energy, a council-run energy company and the ambition of constructing underground transport for the city.[17]

Council Composition

Prior to the election the composition of the council was:

36 14 11 9
Labour Conservative Green Lib Dem

Ward results

Ashley

Ashley (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Green Jude Brew-English
Green William Mountford
Green Tim Wye
Labour Carole Johnson
Labour Amirah Cole
Labour Mohamed Kamal Sharaf
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston

Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Matthew Melias
Conservative Siobhan Kennedy-Hall
Conservative
Green
Green
Green
Labour Jo Sergeant
Labour Don Alexander
Labour Daphne Chikwere
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Bedminster

Bedminster (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Celia Phipps
Labour Mark Bradshaw
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Bishopston & Ashley Down

Bishopston & Ashley Down (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green Lily Fitzgibbon
Green Emma Edwards
Labour Darran McLaughlin
Labour Eileen Means
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Bishopsworth

Bishopsworth (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative Richard Eddy
Green
Green
Labour Thomas Pearce
Labour Emma Moore
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Brislington East

Brislington East (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Tim Rippington
Labour Katja Hornchen
Liberal Democrats Tony Carey
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Brislington West

Brislington West (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Carolyn Magson
Labour Rob Logan
Liberal Democrats Jos Clark
Liberal Democrats Andrew Varney
Turnout

Central

Central (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Kye Dudd
Labour Paul Smith
Liberal Democrats Zachary Barker
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Clifton

Clifton (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour
Labour
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Coombes
Liberal Democrats Max Langer
Turnout

Clifton Down

Clifton Down (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green Carla Denyer
Green Tom Hathway
Labour Elliott Callender
Labour
Liberal Democrats Laura Barry
Liberal Democrats Merche Clarke
Turnout

Cotham

Cotham (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Dylan Woodward
Labour Kieran Glasssmith
Liberal Democrats Anthony Negus
Liberal Democrats Miles Taylor
Turnout

Easton

Easton (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Afzal Hussain Shah
Labour Debra Newrick
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Eastville

Eastville (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Sangeetha Wynter
Labour Marley Bennett
Liberal Democrats Sultan Khan
Liberal Democrats Mohammad Rashid
Turnout

Filwood

Filwood (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Chris Jackson
Labour Zoe Goodman
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Frome Vale

Frome Vale (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Mike Wollacott
Labour Amal Ali
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Hartcliffe & Withywood

Hartcliffe & Withywood (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Green
Labour Helen Holland
Labour Paul Goggin
Labour Kerry Bailes
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Henbury & Brentry

Henbury & Brentry (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Mark Roscoe Weston
Conservative Chris Windows
Green
Green
Labour Teresa Hogan
Labour David Mullaney
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Hengrove & Whitchurch Park

Hengrove & Whitchurch Park (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Green
Labour Lee Starr-Elliott
Labour Mark Brain
Labour Jon Moore
Liberal Democrats Harriett Clough
Liberal Democrats Tim Kent
Liberal Democrats Tara Murray
Turnout

Hillfields

Hillfields (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Craig Cheney
Labour Anna Keen
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Horfield

Horfield (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Claire Hiscott
Conservative Jake Esley
Green
Green
Labour Becky Ward
Labour Tom Renhard
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats Tracey O'Reilley
Turnout

Hotwells & Harbourside

Hotwells & Harbourside (1 seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Green Heulwen Flower
Labour Henry Palmer
Liberal Democrats Stephen Williams
Turnout

Knowle

Knowle (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Michele Tedder
Labour Brandon Gage
Liberal Democrats Chris Davies
Liberal Democrats Gary Hopkins
Turnout

Lawrence Hill

Lawrence Hill (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Hibaq Jama
Labour Shona Jemphrey
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Lockleaze

Lockleaze (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Rebecca Ward
Labour Anna Greene
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Redland

Redland (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Alex Kohnert
Labour
Liberal Democrats James Cox
Liberal Democrats Caroline Gooch
Turnout

Southmead

Southmead (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative James Martin
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Helen Godwin Tiege
Labour Brenda Massey
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Southville

Southville (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green Tony Dyer
Green Christine Townsend
Labour Thomas Phipps
Labour Rhianna Prewett
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

St George Central

St George Central (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green
Green
Labour Nicola Beech
Labour Steve Pearce
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

St George Troopers Hill

St George Troopers Hill (1 seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Green
Labour Fabian Breckels
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

St George West

St George West (1 seat)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Green
Labour Asher Craig
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Stockwood

Stockwood (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Graham David Morris
Conservative Jonathan Robert Hucker
Green
Green
Labour Samuel John Fox[18]
Labour Justin William Ibbett[19]
Liberal Democrats
Liberal Democrats
Turnout

Stoke Bishop

Stoke Bishop (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative John Goulandris
Green
Green
Labour James Wood
Labour
Liberal Democrats Nwakasi Belisle-Nweke
Liberal Democrats Mary Page
Turnout

Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze

Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze (3 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Steve Smith
Conservative Geoff Gollop
Conservative
Green
Green
Green
Labour Miranda McCabe
Labour Warwick Everett-Rimmer
Labour Beth Moreton
Liberal Democrats Simon Cook
Liberal Democrats Christopher Harris
Liberal Democrats Alex Hartley
Turnout

Windmill Hill

Windmill Hill (2 seats)
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative
Conservative
Green Natasha Clarke
Green Lisa Stone
Labour Aileen McLoughlin
Labour Ted Powell
Liberal Democrats Andrew Brown
Liberal Democrats Sarah Classick
Turnout

References

  1. "Local elections postponed for a year over coronavirus". BBC News. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. "Labour loses its majority on Bristol City Council after 'purge' of Corbyn supporters". The Independent. 20 September 2016. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  3. "Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze by-election". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  4. "Labour calls on Bristol councillor to resign and trigger by-election after quitting party". BristolLive. 22 March 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  5. "Brislington East councillor resigns from Tory party". Bristol247. 19 July 2019. Retrieved 20 July 2019.
  6. "Brislington East By-election - bristol.gov.uk". Bristol City Council.
  7. Teale, Andrew (16 January 2020). "Preview: 16 Jan 2020 – Britain Elects". Britain Elects. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  8. Gogarty, Conor (1 February 2020). "Bristol's longest-serving councillor 'deselected' by Tories". Bristol Post. Local World. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. "Labour set for shake up ahead of local elections in Bristol". Meeting Place Communications. 3 July 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  10. Kate Wilson (24 April 2019). "Marvin Rees will be Labour's Bristol mayoral candidate after winning party ballot". Bristol Post. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  11. Esme Ashcroft (20 September 2018). "'Bristol needs a Mayor with the courage to get things done' says Green candidate". Bristol Post. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  12. Wilson, Kate (25 October 2019). "The Conservative candidate for Bristol's mayoral election next year". Bristol Post. Local World. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  13. Morris, Steven (10 June 2020). "Bristol mayor wants 'citywide conversation' on future of Edward Colston statue". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  14. York, Chris. "The Edward Colston Statue Has A New Home – Once It's Been Retrieved From Bristol Harbour". Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  15. Duncan, Conrad (8 June 2020). "Bristol mayor says statue of slave trader Edward Colston was a 'personal affront'". The Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  16. Buchan, Lizzy (9 June 2020). "Tory condemns toppling of 'hero' Edward Colston statue, calling him a 'hero' to many". The Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2020.
  17. Wilson, Kate (25 October 2019). "The Conservative candidate for Bristol's mayoral election next year". Bristol Post. Local World. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  18. https://www.facebook.com/stockwoodlabour/photos/a.2823462537878144/2905774702980260/?type=3&theater
  19. https://www.facebook.com/stockwoodlabour/photos/a.2823462537878144/2905774702980260/?type=3&theater
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.