News / Politics
Green victory in Hotwells & Harbourside by-election
Patrick McAllister has been elected as councillor for Hotwells & Harbourside, making the Green Party the biggest party in Bristol City Council.
Declared in the early hours of Friday, the win saw McAllister narrowly beat Liberal Democrat contender Stephen Williams by just 26 votes.
The results of the by-election means the balance of councillor seats in City Hall has been tipped, with Greens holding 25 and Labour remaining with 24.
is needed now More than ever
Greens secured 537 of the votes with an overall turnout of 32.4 per cent with 1251 votes cast. This was down from 45.39 per cent in the local elections in May 2021.
The full results in order of votes cast were:
- Eliana Barbosa, Conservative Party: 34
- Martin Booth, independent: 14
- Patrick McAllister, Green Party: 537
- Eileen Means, Labour Party: 153
- Stephen Williams, Liberal Democrat: 511
Following a tense 20 minutes when a recount was called, they were were met with jubilation from those who campaigned for a Green candidate in Hotwells & Harbourside.
A celebratory McAllister, addressing campaigners, councillors, counters and journalists in City Hall after the result was declared, said he was “humbled to be elected to represent our community at such a vital time”.
The new councillor said: “Successive Conservative-led governments and our Labour-run council have left our residents feeling frustrated.
“Whether its through botched consultations on new developments, repair works to public throughways going on for years, the cladding crisis or even threatening to take away our library.
“There has never been a more vital time to speak up for our communities and that is exactly what I am going to do from now on.”
McAllister has a degree in climate science and works locally in legal services
McAllister also highlighted of the significance of Greens becoming the council’s largest group.
“I recognise the weight of that responsibility and as a team we are putting together our programme so we are ready to run this city from next year when the committee system comes in,” he added.
“In the mean time, it think that the city council’s current leadership has a responsibility as well.
“They have to now recognise the mandate that the green party has.
“I’m really looking forward to getting on with the job and representing the amazing community with the commitment and enthusiasm that it deserves.”
The vote was triggered after Lib Dem councillor Alex Hartley, who spearheaded the campaign to scrap the city’s mayoral model in favour of a committee system last year, stepped down for health reasons.
All photos: Betty Woolerton
Read next:
- How will Bristol’s new committee system work?
- ‘Hotwell’s and Harbourside’s next councillor need to focus on the job, not grandstanding’
- The small square with a large number of famous former residents
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