The start of the council election campaign in Bristol has not been without challenges for Green party activists. They have endured cold and pounding rain while out canvassing, the shock of a dog bite that cost a candidate part of a finger and some pretty fierce swipes from Labour rivals.
But Emma Edwards, the leader of the group on Bristol city council, said they were relishing the battle to win power in May. “It’s a really exciting time for us here. It feels like we’re ready to make another leap. We’re enjoying being out, speaking to voters, telling them about our policies.”
The Greens secured an excellent set of results at the 2021 elections in Bristol, ending up with 24 seats, making them the joint biggest party with Labour. They won an extra seat at a byelection last year, making them the largest group.
But it did not mean they ran the authority. Marvin Rees, the Labour directly elected mayor, did not want to share control and he and his Labour colleagues continued to make the key decisions.
The role of the mayor, however, is being scrapped and the council will return to a committee system, meaning real power could be on the way for the Greens. There is a lot to play for and it was no surprise when the party announced it would launch its national council election campaign in Bristol on Thursday.
Of course, the prospect of power brings added scrutiny. Edwards, a therapist and yoga teacher, said she had been surprised at some of the Labour tactics.
In her ward, Bishopston and Ashley Down, the Greens have been accused by Labour of opposing plans for a new stand at Bristol Rovers football club and a new train station.
“It feels like, it’s getting close to the election and the dirty tricks are coming out, which is really disappointing,” said Edwards, speaking as she canvassed next to the football ground. “It shouldn’t be like that.” She said it was true the Greens had raised questions about the stand and station – but had not opposed them.
“We are moving into a committee system. Part of the benefit of a committee system is breaking down tribalism, getting on better. Marvin Rees never seemed particularly keen on working with any other parties.”
None of the parties is likely to win an overall majority so there will have to be cooperation.
“I’ve been looking at councils around the country where they’ve moved to a committee system and the ones where it’s working the best are where they’ve managed to overcome that tribalism. We’re going to have to work together.”
The issues raised on the doorstep with Edwards and her colleagues range from local – traffic, the schools, crime – to global – the climate emergency and war in Gaza.
Annie Lilygreen, 28, a museum and art gallery worker, said she used to vote Labour. “But that has changed. Labour has been on thin ice since Keir Starmer became leader. I’m disappointed by a lot of the stuff he has said.”
Lilygreen said she was upset at Starmer’s description of the Black Lives Matter movement as a “moment”. “I also think he’s been disappointing with regards to the protection of transgender people and Gaza. I’m definitely leaning more towards the Greens.”
Sally, a former teacher, wanted to talk about the stress suffered in schools by pupils and staff, about the pressures on the NHS – and the traffic. “I usually vote Labour or Green. I’ll probably vote Green this time because on a local level they work hard and I feel they speak for us.”
The political scientist James Dennison, an expert on the Greens, said a majority for the party in Bristol would be “a massive victory”.
He added: “It would show that Labour/Starmer have a genuine electoral threat to their left. Staying the largest party would alone be victory given the growth in Labour’s national vote share since 2021.”
Edwards said the traffic could be bad on days when Rovers were at home. “But I try not to get too upset about it. I enjoy the sound of the cheering and singing from the ground.” She promised to have a look at the Greens’ policies.
Danica Priest, the Green party candidate in Filwood, a ward in the south of the city, had an unhappy interaction with a dog when she had the tip of a finger bitten off as she posted a leaflet.
“It was awful,” said Edwards. “Every canvasser’s worst nightmare.” Priest has been laid up and colleagues have taken over campaigning for her, using wooden spatulas to push leaflets through letter boxes. “We just want to get her elected now because it must not be in vain,” said Edwards. “We stick together in the Green party.”
