2021 Bristol City Council election

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]

Prior to the election the composition of the council was: