Bristol Green Party won a second council seat in the 2011 local elections

Written by Graham Woodruff Friday, 06 May 2011

Bristol Green Party won a second council seat in the 2011 local elections. Gus Hoyt gained Ashley ward with a 744 vote majority and 42.6% of the vote, taking it from the Liberal Democrats. He joined Tess Green in Southville on Bristol City Council, where the Green Party now has official party status.

The Green Party stood in all city council wards that were up for election on 5^th May, increasing their vote share across the city. Charlie Bolton, standing in Southville and hoping to gain a second Green seat there, gained 37.8% of the vote but missed out on gaining the seat. In Easton Katie Buse narrowly missed coming second by just 22 votes, gaining over 27% of the vote, a 10% increase on last time this seat was contested in 2007.

We would like to thank all the people in Bristol who voted for the Green Party. Councillor Gus Hoyt, speaking shortly after the results were announced, said:

“This proves that a positive message and a clean campaign CAN win over an established power base and negative scaremongering. It's a shame the great Charlie Bolton missed out in the second Southville seat, but Tess and I hope to truly represent both sides of the city. We are here for the long run and this is merely our second step.”

The full electoral results are available on the Bristol City Council website here.

Bristol has two Green Parties: Bristol South Green Party and Bristol North Green Party.

As the local political arm of a much larger national and international Green movement, we promote social and environmental justice through campaigns, non-violent direct action and the electoral process.

In Brighton, where Caroline Lucas (the party leader) made a crucial breakthrough by becoming Britain's first Green MP in last year's General Election, the first ever Green Council has been formed. The local elections saw the Greens win 10 seats, taking their total on the Council to 23 where they will lead. Other nationwide Green 2011 local election results can be found here.

England also returns two Green MEPs to the European Parliament, and there are two Green London Assembly Members (out of a total of just 25 members).

Gus Hoyt celebrating his win in Ashley