News / Politics
Greens battling to remain Bristol’s largest party in by-election
The Greens are battling to remain Bristol’s largest party in a council by-election next month after a councillor resigned.
Voters in Bishopston and Ashley Down will head to the polls on Thursday, August 24, and the results could indicate which party will likely run the city next year.
The Green party became the largest group on Bristol City Council in February this year, after taking the Hotwells and Harbourside ward from the Liberal Democrats.
is needed now More than ever
Before Lily Fitzgibbon resigned in Bishopston and Ashley Down, the Greens had 25 councillors in Bristol.
Fitzgibbon was just 18 when she was elected as one of the two new Green members for Bishopston & Ashley Down ward in 2021 – photo: Bristol Green Party
Due to the mayoral system, Labour is still in power on the council, despite no longer being the largest party.
Labour have 24 councillors, and winning the by-election next month would provide a huge boost of confidence to the party ahead of all-out local elections in May next year.
Fitzgibbon was the youngest councillor in Bristol when she was elected in 2021 at age 18, but recently announced she would be stepping down to move out of the area to be closer to her family.
The candidates announced to replace her so far are: James Crawford, Green; Andrew Milton, Labour; and Roddy Jaques, Conservative.
Great to join @bristolwestlab this weekend for the launch of our @LabourBristol council by-election campaign in Bishopston & Ashley Down, with our great candidate Andy Milton.
Bishopston & Ashley Down will become part of the Bristol North West constituency at the next election. pic.twitter.com/bBVnB9MXbZ
— Darren Jones MP (@darrenpjones) July 16, 2023
The deadline to register to vote for the by-election is Tuesday, August 8. The deadline to apply for a new postal vote, or change an existing postal vote, is 5pm on Wednesday, August 9. Postal votes will arrive around Tuesday, August 15. The deadline to apply for a proxy vote is 5pm on Wednesday, August 16. Voters must bring accepted forms of photo ID to polling booths.
Bishopston and Ashley Down is represented by two councillors. The other councillor in the ward is Emma Edwards, the leader of the Green group. In the last local elections, in 2021, Greens received 49 per cent of the vote in the ward, ahead of Labour with 27 per cent.
The by-election in Bishopston and Ashley Down will likely be won by either the Greens or Labour, who are both vying to take power across Bristol in May next year.
Elsewhere, the Conservative party currently has 14 councillors on the city council, Liberal Democrats have five, and the Knowle Community Party has two.
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo: Bristol Green Party
Read next:
- By-election to take place as Bristol’s youngest councillor resigns
- Green victory in Hotwells & Harbourside by-election
- 10 Questions: Carla Denyer – ‘We need to make sure that the majority of our trees are protected’
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