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New Green votes - but no new Green councillors

Southville and Ashley now on a political knife-edge

5th May 2007

For immediate release

Just six votes kept Tess Green from joining Charlie Bolton as Southville's second Green councillor on Bristol City Council in the closest vote of the election.

Over at Ashley, Daniella Radice narrowly missed replacing LibDem councillor Shirley Marshall, as the competing Labour vote collapsed.

Voters in 21 wards could choose between the four main parties, and 16% of them chose a Green candidate - but thanks to the first-past-the-post electoral system, none of the 25 seats up for election have gone green.

Cabot, Cotham and Stockwood have also joined the list of wards^{[Note 1]} where Greens are now the principal challengers to sitting councillors.

In Southville, Labour's narrow victory came at the cost of controversial union backing, as the T&GWU flooded the ward with leaflets urging voters not to vote Green. Even on election day, Labour supporters were heard telling voters the untruth that the Greens aren't opposed to further privatisation of the Home Care service. And on the eve-of-poll, none other than David Milliband MP, Secretary of State for the Environment, was wheeled in to knock on Southville doors!

In the Ashley ward, Green candidate Daniella Radice replaced Labour as the main challenger to the LibDem establishment. In this Labour target seat, Daniella polled 1127 votes against sitting councillor Shirley Marshall's 1237, with Labour trailing at 765 . Here too, the defending councillors felt they must draw in the big guns from Westminster; Steven Williams MP was busy distributing 'green' leaflets around the ward just before the poll

In Cotham, with both seats up for election due to the resignation of LibDem Cllr Barrington Dodd, a collapse in the Labour vote left Tories and Greens vying for the 'runner-up' position.

Green Party press spokesman Peter Goodwin said:
"Thursday's election has firmly established the Green Party on equal terms with the LibDems, Labour, and the Conservatives in Bristol, but with a radically different approach to local politics. It's a great pity for us, and for the city, that our vote wasn't turned into more seats and more influence on the council itself.

"Cllr. Charlie Bolton will still be in the council house promoting policies to 'green' Bristol; we hope that the next elections will bring a Green group to the council that reflects the size of the Green vote in the city."

ENDS

Contact:

Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer) 01275 543280

Note:

1. Greens are now in second place in Ashley, Bishopston, Cabot, Cotham, Southville and Stockwood

For full results see details here

(added August 2007) Click for summaries of elections in 2006 and 2005