The 2016 Bristol City Council election took place on Thursday 5 May 2016, alongside nationwide local elections. Following a boundary review, the number of wards in the city was reduced to 34, with each electing one, two or three Councillors. The overall number of Councillors remained 70, with all seats up for election at the same time. Elections would then be held every 4 years.
The Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats contested all 70 seats. The Green Party stood 59 candidates, TUSC 18, UKIP 10 and the Wessex Regionalists 1. There were also 8 Independent candidates.
Voters in the city were also voting in the 2016 Bristol Mayoral Election and the election for Avon and Somerset's Police and Crime Commissioner. Turnout across the city was high, with many wards recording over 50% turnout, and none recording less than 25%. Labour won a number of new seats and gained overall control of the council, whilst all other parties lost seats. UKIP lost their only Councillor.
This result had the following consequences for the total number of seats on the council after the elections: PartyPrevious councilNew council+/- Labour 30 37 7 Conservatives 16 14 2 Greens 13 11 2 Liberal Democrats 10 8 2 UKIP 1 0 1 TUSC 0 0 0 Wessex Regionalists 0 0 0 Independent 0 0 0 Total 70 70 Working majority
Council Composition Prior to the election the composition of the council was:
+ ↓ 30 16 13 10 1 Labour Conservative Green Lib Dem U
After the election the composition of the council was:
+ ↓ 37 14 11 8 Labour Conservative Green Lib Dem
Lib Dem - Liberal Democrats U - UK Independence Party (UKIP)
Ward results Ashley
Avonmouth & Lawrence Weston
Bedminster
Bishopston & Ashley Down
Bishopsworth
Brislington East
Brislington West
Central
Clifton
Clifton Down
*On 22 April 2016, it was announced that Satnam Singh had been suspended from the Labour Party for failing to disclose prior convictions for selling illegal tobacco and drugs. As the nominations process had already been completed, it was too late for Labour to nominate a new candidate or withdraw Mr Singh from the ballot.
Cotham
Easton
Eastville
Filwood
Frome Vale
Hartcliffe & Withywood
Henbury & Brentry
Hengrove & Whitchurch Park
Hillfields
Horfield
Hotwells & Harbourside
Knowle
Lawrence Hill
Lockleaze
Redland
Southmead
Southville
St George Central
St George Troopers Hill
St George West
Stockwood
Stoke Bishop
Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze
Windmill Hill
References