A by-election is due to be held at Bristol City Council after a councillor announced he is stepping down. The upcoming vote in Hotwells and Harbourside could mean either Labour or the Greens — who each have 24 seats — becoming the largest group on the council.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Alex Hartley announced he was resigning in a letter to residents on Friday, December 16. He said mental health concerns meant he could no longer represent residents "as well as they deserve”. The by-election will be held in either late January or early February.
Cllr Hartley was first elected in May last year, and played a pivotal role in the referendum to scrap the mayoral model and move to a committee system, by tabling a motion which led to the referendum. His resignation paves the way for a new political battle early next year.
Read more: New North Filton train station near arena 'needs higher frequency' of services
Cllr Hartley said: “It has been the honour of my life to represent Hotwells and Harbourside ward, and to fight for your interests in City Hall. Unfortunately due to mental health concerns, I no longer feel able to represent you as well as you deserve. For that I am truly sorry.
“The one solace to me having to step down is that former MP for Bristol West and councillor for Cabot ward, Stephen Williams, has decided to be the candidate for the Lib Dems in the ensuing by-election.”
In the last local elections, held in May 2021, the Liberal Democrats narrowly defeated the Greens to win the seat, with Labour coming a close third. Liberal Democrats received 651 votes, while the Greens received 625, Labour 496, and Conservatives 182. Liberal Democrats have held the seat for many years, although with increasingly smaller majorities.
But if the Greens win the seat, and become the largest party on the council, that means very little under the current mayoral system. Bristol mayor Marvin Rees would still be able to appoint an all Labour cabinet, and Labour would keep decision-making powers, despite not being the largest party. The next city-wide local elections in Bristol are due in May 2024.
As well as former MP Stephen Williams running for the Liberal Democrats, two other candidates have already announced their plans to run for councillor. Patrick McAllister is running for the Greens, while Martin Booth, editor of local news website Bristol24/7, is running as an independent candidate. It's not yet clear who is running for Labour or the Conservatives.
Mr McAllister lives locally, has a degree in climate science and works in legal services. If elected, he said he would focus on fighting budget cuts, flooding, and the cladding scandal.
Mr McAllister said: "I’m very proud to have been selected as the Green Party candidate for Hotwells and Harbourside. A Green win here would make us the biggest party on the council and help us make Bristol the fair and green city that residents want to live in.
“I will always stand up for the interests of the Hotwells and Harbourside community, and challenge the unfairness of upcoming budget cuts, residents being left at risk of flooding by developers, and the cladding scandal that is threatening residents with bankruptcy just to make their homes safe.”
Journalist Mr Booth lives in the ward. He said Central Library should not be moved from its location, more local input is needed on the Western Harbour plans, and streets need to be safer for children travelling to school.
Mr Booth added: "As an independent voice in Bristol for many years, I hope that my journalism, writing and mentoring has already made a small difference to our local area and our wider city. But I don’t want to be shouting from the sidelines forever.
"I want to make a tangible difference inside City Hall, representing my community within the Hotwells and Harbourside ward that I call home. It will be an enormous challenge to win this by-election against the weight of party machines who no doubt will throw the proverbial kitchen sink at this ward. But I hope that my independence can be a strength."
According to the council, the by-election will be held on either January 26 or February 2. The date will be confirmed after checking which polling stations are available.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: "The resignation of Alex Hartley, formerly the member for Hotwells and Harbourside ward, has been accepted by the Returning Officer. A Notice of Vacancy was posted on our website on December 19 and the two signatures required to request an election have been received.
“The by-election must take place within 35 days of the Notice of Vacancy and will therefore be held on either Thursday, January 26, or Thursday, February 2, 2023. The Returning Officer will confirm the date once polling station availability and holiday periods have been taken into account.”
