Mayor of Bristol explained

Post:Mayor
Body:Bristol
Insignia:File:Arms of Bristol City Council.svg
Insigniasize:100px
Insigniacaption:Arms of Bristol City Council
Style:City Mayor (to distinguish from Lord Mayor, a separate post)
First:George Ferguson
Last:Marvin Rees

The Mayor of Bristol was the political leader of Bristol City Council. The mayor was a directly elected politician who, along with the 70 members of Bristol City Council, was responsible for the strategic government of the city of Bristol, England. The role was created after a local referendum held on 3 May 2012, which followed the passage of the Localism Act 2011.[1] 41,032 voted for an elected mayor and 35,880 voted against, with a turnout of 24%.[2] [3] An election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012.[4] [5]

The final mayor was Marvin Rees, elected on 5 May 2016, who stepped down on 3 May 2024.

The post of Lord Mayor of Bristol is a separate office, elected each May by city councillors and taking office on 29 September for a one-year period. The Lord Mayor chairs Council meetings and performs ceremonial functions in the city.[6]

On 7 December 2021, Bristol City Council voted in favour of holding another referendum on the position of mayor in May 2022, with regards to whether to retain the position or return to decision-making by councillors.[7] [8] The referendum result was to abolish the position, and replace it with a committee system at the end of the current mayoral term in May 2024.[9]

Background

The Local Government Act 2000 required local authorities in England to move from the traditional committee-based system of decision making to one based on an executive, also allowing the possibility of a directly elected mayor.[10] The first directly elected mayor was in Greater London in 2000.[11] Others followed in other authorities, including Hartlepool,[12] Middlesbrough,[12] Tower Hamlets,[13] Liverpool[14] and Salford.[15]

Referendum campaigns

2012 referendum

Following the passage of The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012 by the United Kingdom Parliament in February 2012,[16] a referendum was announced for 3 May 2012.[17]

Nine other cities also held referendums on the same day: Birmingham,[18] Bradford,[19] Coventry,[20] Leeds,[21] Manchester,[22] Newcastle upon Tyne,[23] Nottingham,[24] Sheffield[25] and Wakefield.[26] In addition, Doncaster Borough Council voted to hold a referendum on the same day to decide whether or not to retain their existing elected mayoral system, having been one of the earliest authorities to adopt the mayoral system in 2001.[27] [28]

Campaigning groups supporting (A Mayor for Bristol)[29] and opposing (Bristol Says No!)[30] an elected mayor were established. A debate organised by the University of Bristol took place in the Council House on 22 February 2012.[31]

During the campaign, there were complaints that many voters did not receive leaflets produced by the city council explaining what the referendum was about.[32] [33] Cities minister, Greg Clark accused the council of inaccuracies in the leaflet and refused to cover the printing costs.[34] After Clark promised more powers would be available to Bristol with an elected mayor, the city council accused him of "blackmail".[35]

The result, declared on 4 May 2012 by returning officer Stephen McNamara, was in favour of creating the position. Bristol was the only one of the ten cities voting that day to choose to have an elected mayor.[5]

2022 referendum

On 7 December 2021, the majority of elected Councillors backed a legally binding motion to hold a referendum on the future of the role of the Elected Mayor of Bristol. In May of 2022, the people of Bristol voted to abolish the role of mayor in the referendum, with a turnout of 28.6%.[36] [37] The position ceased to exist in 2024, at the end of Rees's second term.

Elections

The first election for the new post was held on 15 November 2012,[38] the same day as elections for a police and crime commissioner for the Avon and Somerset Constabulary area.[39] A number of potential candidates expressed and interest in standing,[40] and 15 candidates stood for election to be mayor.[41]

The supplementary vote system is used for the elections, with each voter being entitled to list a first and second choice candidate. In this system if no candidate has more than half of the votes plus one in the first round of counting, all candidates other than the top two are eliminated and voters' second choices from the eliminated candidates are then allocated to the remaining candidates. The second election for mayor of Bristol took place in May 2016.[42]

2012

Turnout at the election was 27.92%.

2016

Turnout in the election was 44.87%.

2021

Because of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, elections for the mayor of Bristol were delayed from 2020 to May 2021. The mayoral term following these elections was shortened by a year.[43]

Turnout at the election was 41.15%.[44]

List of mayors since 2012

See also: List of mayors of Bristol.

Political partyNameEntered officeLeft office
Bristol 1stGeorge Ferguson19 Nov 20128 May 2016
LabourMarvin Rees9 May 20163 May 2024

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Directly-elected mayors – Commons Library Standard Note . Keith . Parry . UK Parliament . 19 April 2012 . 4 May 2012.
  2. Web site: The City of Bristol Mayoral Referendum result . Bristol City Council . 4 May 2012 . 4 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120513110218/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/625 . 13 May 2012 .
  3. Web site: Bristol votes in favour of directly-elected mayor . Staff . BBC News. . 4 May 2012 . 5 May 2012.
  4. Web site: Directly Elected Mayor – What does it mean for Bristol? . Bristol City Council. 4 May 2012 . 4 May 2012.
  5. Web site: Bristol stands alone as only city to vote for an elected mayor . Staff . This is Bristol . . 5 May 2012 . 5 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120508004014/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-stands-city-vote-elected-mayor/story-16010145-detail/story.html . 8 May 2012 . dead .
  6. Web site: Lord Mayor of Bristol . Bristol City Council . 2012 . 5 May 2012.
  7. News: Bristol mayor referendum to be held on role's future . BBC News . 8 December 2021 . 14 December 2021.
  8. News: Rees' reaction to mayoral referendum . Woolerton . Betty . B24/7 . 8 December 2021 . 14 December 2021.
  9. News: Bristol Mayor Vote: Voters Decide to Abolish Mayor Post. BBC News . 6 May 2022 . 6 May 2022.
  10. Web site: Local Government Act 2000 . legislation.gov.uk . 28 July 2000. 8 May 2012.
  11. News: Ken's blow to New Labour . Nick . Assinder . . 5 May 2000 . . London . 13 May 2012.
  12. Web site: Elected Mayors . New Local Government Network . 2012 . 8 May 2012 . 20 December 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20081220021247/http://www.nlgn.org.uk/public/elected-mayors/ . dead .
  13. Web site: Meet the Mayor . London Borough of Tower Hamlets . 2012 . 13 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120512201910/http://www.towerhamlets.gov.uk/lgsl/1001-1050/1002_mayor/meet_the_mayor.aspx . 12 May 2012 . dead .
  14. Web site: Why a mayor for Liverpool? – . Liverpool City Council . 2012 . 13 May 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120503044857/http://liverpool.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/Mayoral-elections-2012/Why-a-mayor-for-Liverpool/ . 3 May 2012 . dmy-all .
  15. Web site: Election results – . Salford City Council . 2012. 13 May 2012.
  16. Web site: The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012 . legislation.gov.uk . UK Parliament. 8 February 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  17. News: Bristol elected mayor idea has been debated . Staff . BBC News. . 22 February 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  18. si . 2012 . 324 . The City of Birmingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  19. si . 2012 . 325 . The City of Bradford (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  20. si . 2012. 327 . The City of Coventry (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  21. si . 2012. 328 . The City of Leeds (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  22. si . 2012. 329 . The City of Manchester (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  23. si . 2012. 330 . The City of Newcastle upon Tyne (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  24. si . 2012. 331 . The City of Nottingham (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  25. si . 2012. 332 . The City of Sheffield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  26. si . 2012. 333 . The City of Wakefield (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012.
  27. News: Voters to decide on mayor's future . https://archive.today/20120914004403/http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/breaking_news_voters_to_decide_on_mayor_s_future_1_4161087 . dead . 14 September 2012 . The Star . 15 May 2012 .
  28. Web site: English mayoral referendum results . Staff. BBC News. BBC. 4 May 2012. 16 May 2012.
  29. Web site: A Mayor for Bristol . bristolmayor.org . 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  30. Web site: Bristol says NO! | vote no to an elected Mayor in the referendum . bristolsaysno.org . 2012 . 8 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120504025817/http://bristolsaysno.org/ . 4 May 2012 . dead .
  31. Web site: Mayoral debate . Bristol University . 16 February 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  32. News: Bristol mayor referendum leaflets failing to drop on mats . Staff . This Is Bristol . Northcliffe Media . 17 April 2012 . 8 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120419235057/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayor-referendum-leaflets-failing-drop/story-15837574-detail/story.html . 19 April 2012 . dead .
  33. News: Mayoral referendum: Bristol council's call over leaflet . Staff . BBC News . BBC. 5 April 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  34. News: Bristol City Council mayoral leaflets 'not fair or balanced' . Staff . BBC News . BBC. 5 April 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  35. News: Government accused of blackmail over Bristol elected mayor . Staff. BBC News . BBC. 15 March 2012 . 8 May 2012.
  36. News: Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022. Cameron. Amanda. 7 December 2021. Bristol Post. 30 December 2021.
  37. News: Bristol mayoral referendum to be held in 2022. 7 December 2021. BBC News. 30 December 2021.
  38. News: Bristol's elected mayor will have to tackle 'council malaise'. Staff. This is Bristol. Northcliffe Media. 7 May 2012. 8 May 2012. https://archive.today/20130505070608/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-s-elected-mayor-tackle-council-malaise/story-16013468-detail/story.html. 5 May 2013. dead.
  39. Web site: Future elections in Bristol. Bristol City Council. 2012. 8 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120221103300/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/future-elections-bristol. 21 February 2012. dmy-all.
  40. News: Bristol mayoral election: Expect a flurry of hopefuls . Staff . This is Bristol . Northcliffe Media . 5 May 2012 . 8 May 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120717164615/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-mayoral-election-Expect-flurry-hopefuls/story-16010158-detail/story.html . 17 July 2012 . dead .
  41. Web site: Candidates and campaign groups. Bristol City Council. 2012. 13 May 2012. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120506043859/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/candidates. 6 May 2012. dmy-all.
  42. Web site: Future elections in Bristol . Bristol City Council. 2014 . 17 February 2014.
  43. News: Bristol's next mayor will only serve three-year term after 2020 elections postponed . Wilson . Kate . Bristol Post . 7 May 2020 . 16 May 2020.
  44. Web site: Mayoral election 2021 turnout . . 2021-05-08 . Bristol City Council . 2021-05-08.

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