2012 Bristol mayoral election

February 2018 February 2018 2012 Bristol mayoral election United Kingdom presidential no 27.92% 2016 Bristol mayoral election 2016 15 November 2012 1st Round  Percentage 2nd Round  Percentage File:George Ferguson (2013).jpg George Ferguson Bristol 1st 31,321 35.1% 37,353 54.4% File:Marvin Rees, 2016 Labour Party Conference 2 (cropped).jpg Marvin Rees Labour Party (UK) 25,896 29.1% 31,259 45.6% File:Geoff Gollop OBE (cropped).png Geoff Gollop Conservative Party (UK) 8,136 9.1% Eliminated Eliminated File:Councillor Jon Rogers (cropped).jpg Jon Rogers Liberal Democrats (UK) 6,202 7.0% Eliminated Eliminated Green Party of England and Wales Daniella Radice Green Party of England and Wales 5,248 5.9% Eliminated Eliminated 320px Ward results 320px Constituency results Mayor New office George Ferguson Bristol 1st The 2012 Bristol mayoral election was an election held on 15 November 2012, to elect the Mayor of Bristol. It was the first Mayoral election held following the approval of a Mayoral system in a referendum in May 2012. It was won by Bristol 1st candidate George Ferguson. 3 Background History of local government in Bristol#Mayors 2012 English mayoral referendums The Local Government Act 2000 required local authorities in the United Kingdom 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.http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/22/contents Local Government Act 2000 legislation.gov.uk 28 July 2000 8 May 2012 The first directly elected mayor was in Greater London in 2000. Others followed in other authorities, including Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Tower Hamlets, Liverpool and Salford. Following the passage of The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012 by the United Kingdom Parliament in February 2012,http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/326/made The City of Bristol (Mayoral Referendum) Order 2012 legislation.gov.uk UK Parliament 8 February 2012 8 May 2012 a referendum was announced for 3 May 2012.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17127505 Bristol elected mayor idea has been debated Staff BBC News BBC 22 February 2012 8 May 2012 Nine other cities also held referendums on the same day: Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Sheffield and Wakefield. 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.http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/barnsley/breaking_news_voters_to_decide_on_mayor_s_future_1_4161087 Voters to decide on mayor’s future The Star 15 May 2012https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17854687 English mayoral referendum results Staff BBC News BBC 4 May 2012 16 May 2012 Campaigning groups supporting (A Mayor for Bristol)http://www.bristolmayor.org/ A Mayor for Bristol bristolmayor.org 2012 8 May 2012 13 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120513010908/http://www.bristolmayor.org/ dead and opposing (Bristol Says No!)http://bristolsaysno.org/ 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 dmy-all an elected mayor were established. A debate organised by the University of Bristol took place in the Council House on 22 February 2012. http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2012/8244.html Mayoral debate Bristol University 16 February 2012 8 May 2012 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 having an elected mayor.http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Bristol-stands-city-vote-elected-mayor/story-16010145-detail/story.html Bristol stands alone as only city to vote for an elected mayor Staff This is Bristol Northcliffe Media 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 dmy-all Candidates Labour Nominee Marvin Rees, former broadcast journalist and party activistBristol Labour Party selects city mayor candidate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18496333 bbc.co.uk BBC 6 August 2026 18 June 2012"Profiles of Labour's candidates for the Bristol mayoralty: Marvin Rees", Labour Uncut, 18 May 2012. Shortlisted candidates Kelvin Blake, former City Councillor for Filwood Peter Hammond, City Council group leader, former City Council leader and City Councillor for Southmead Helen Holland, former City Council leader and City Councillor for Whitchurch Park Dan Norris, former Member of Parliament for Wansdyke and former City Councillor for Brislington West Liberal Democrats Nominee Jon Rogers, City Council Deputy leader, City Councillor for Ashley and retired GPBristol city mayor: Lib Dems name Jon Rogers as candidate https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19099933 bbc.co.uk BBC 6 August 2026 3 August 2012 Shortlisted candidates Simon Cook, City Council leader and City Councillor for Clifton East Potential candidates Abdul Malik, businessman and former City Councillor for EastonGeorge Ferguson tipped to become Bristol's first elected mayor http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/George-Ferguson-tipped-Bristol-s-elected-mayor/story-16127220-detail/story.html 6 August 2026 The Bristol Post 19 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120705115514/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/George-Ferguson-tipped-Bristol-s-elected-mayor/story-16127220-detail/story.html 5 July 2012 Stephen Williams, Member of Parliament for Bristol West and former City Councillor for CabotBristol votes in favour of directly-elected mayor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-17922812 bbc.co.uk BBC 6 August 2026 4 May 2012 Conservative Nominee Geoff Gollop, former City Council group leader and City Councillor for Westbury-on-Trym"Conservatives announce their mayoral candidate" https://web.archive.org/web/20140512214324/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Conservatives-announce-mayoral-candidate/story-16668290-detail/story.html 12 May 2014 . Bristol Post. 8 August 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2014. Shortlisted candidates Peter Abrahams, City Council group leader, former City Council Deputy leader and City Councillor for Stoke Bishop Barbara Lewis, former City Councillor for Brislington East Green Nominee Daniella Radice, former energy consultant and candidate for City Council in 2007 and 2009Bristol's Green Party selects candidate for mayor https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-18876196 bbc.co.uk BBC 6 August 2026 18 July 2012 Shortlisted candidates Three unnamed candidates Bristol 1st Nominee George Ferguson, former architect, entrepreneur, former Liberal City Councillor for Cabot and candidate for Bristol West in 1983 & 1987 Others Tom Baldwin (TUSC), part-time Socialist Party organiserBristol mayor election: Candidate profiles https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19018017 bbc.co.uk BBC 6 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20121108130926/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-19018017 8 November 2012 2 November 2012 Tony Britt (Independent), former landscape gardener Tim Collins (Independent), former Labour Avon County councillor and retired planning consultant Dave Dobbs (Birthday Party), political activist, puppeteer and writer Rich Fisher (Independent), unemployed Stoney Garnett (Independent), retired postman Owain George (Independent), pub landlord Neil Maggs (Respect), accountant and school bursar Spud Murphy (Independent), former Conservative City Councillor for Avonmouth Philip Pover (Independent), IT consultant Withdrawn Craig Clarke (Independent) Campaign Shortly after beginning his campaign, Ferguson was hit with accusations of "political expediency" for quitting the Liberal Democrats in order to enter as an independent. Darren Lewis, chair of Bristol Labour Party, told the The Bristol Post "To me and a lot of others, it seems the only reason he chose to resign was due to political expediency. He stayed with the Liberal Democrat party when they were riding high in the polls, he stayed with them through thick and thin – until, in fact, he decided to stand for public office. The only reason that made him resign was simply because he knew the Liberal Democrats are not going to win this election." Ferguson responded "Everyone knows that I am my own person. I'm a member of lots of things but I'm as independent as they come. These remarks are typical example of playing the party game and I am not prepared to do that."Mud begins to fly in race to become Bristol's elected mayor http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Mud-begins-fly-race-Bristol-s-elected-mayor/story-16127172-detail/story.html 7 August 2026 The Bristol Post 19 May 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120524064555/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Mud-begins-fly-race-Bristol-s-elected-mayor/story-16127172-detail/story.html 24 May 2012 During a September question and answer session both Ferguson and Rogers stated their opposition to a proposed £150 million expansion of Bristol Airport while Rees and Gollop spoke in favour of the plans.VIDEO: Mayoral candidates oppose Bristol Airport growth http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/VIDEO-Mayoral-candidates-oppose-Bristol-Airport/story-16943012-detail/story.html 7 August 2026 The Bristol Post 20 September 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120921222202/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/VIDEO-Mayoral-candidates-oppose-Bristol-Airport/story-16943012-detail/story.html 21 September 2012 During the final week of the campaign, Simon Woolley director of Operation Black Vote told The Voice if Rees was elected it would be an "Obama moment" as he would the first directly elected Mayor of African descent across Europe. He also said that "Symbolically this too is a very big deal. Marvin stands before the people of Bristol to represent all its citizens fairly and honestly, but he could have stood before its citizens some 280 years ago as commercial chattel, or, crudely put, as a slave. Because from 1730-1745 Bristol was the main slave port for the UK." By election day, Rees was the 1 to 4 favourite to win with Ferguson at 5 to 1, Rogers at 6 to 1 and Gollop at 25 to 1.Bristol Mayoral Election Next Mayor Betting Odds http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/politics-and-election/bristol-mayoral-election/to-be-elected-president oddschecker.com Oddschecker 7 August 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20121115010112/http://www.oddschecker.com/specials/politics-and-election/bristol-mayoral-election/to-be-elected-president 15 November 2012 15 November 2012Zoe Williams Bristol's mayoral election: political karaoke with a testosterone chorus https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/nov/09/bristol-mayoral-election-political-karaoke 7 August 2026 The Guardian 9 November 2012 Bristol, UK Voting system The election used a supplementary vote system, in which voters express a first and a second preference of candidates.http://www.londonelects.org.uk/im-voter/how-vote How to Vote London Elects 21 August 2015 If a candidate receives over 50% of the first preference vote the candidate wins. If no candidate receives an overall majority, i.e., over 50% of first preference votes, the top two candidates proceed to a second round and all other candidates are eliminated. The first preference votes for the remaining two candidates stand in the final count. Voters' ballots whose first and second preference candidates are eliminated are discarded. Voters whose first preference candidates have been eliminated and whose second preference candidate is in the top two have their second preference votes added to the count. This means that the winning candidate has the support of a majority of voters who expressed a preference among the top two. Result On election night, Ferguson would defeat Rees 54.4% to 45.6% becoming the first directly elected Mayor of Bristol. Bristol Mayoral election 15 November 2012 Stephen McNamara Mayoral Election results 2012 https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council/voting-and-elections/election-results/mayor-election-results-2012 bristol.gov.uk Bristol City Council 6 August 2026 16 November 2012 Bristol 1st George Ferguson 37353 31321 35.13 6032 54.44% Labour Party (UK) Marvin Rees 37353 25896 29.05 5363 45.56% Conservative Party (UK) Geoff Gollop 37353 8136 9.13 Liberal Democrats (UK) Jon Rogers 37353 6202 6.96 Green Party of England and Wales Daniella Radice 37353 5248 5.89 Independent Owain George 37353 2404 2.70 Independent Spud Murphy 37353 1855 2.08 Respect Party Neil Maggs 37353 1568 1.76 Independent Stoney Garnett 37353 1413 1.58 Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition Tom Baldwin 37353 1412 1.58 Independent Tim Collins 37353 1037 1.16 Independent Philip Pover 37353 994 1.11 Independent Tony Britt 37353 761 0.85 Independent Rich Fisher 37353 494 0.55 The Birthday Party Dave Dobbs 37353 411 0.46 90,273 27.92 323,310 Bristol 1st By Constituency (1st Round) yes #B0CEFF;line-height:135%; none ConstituencyGeorge Ferguson(Bristol 1st)Marvin Rees(Labour)Geoff Gollop(Conservative)Jon Rogers(Liberal Democrats)Daniella Radice(Green)Owain GeorgeIndependentSpud MurphyIndependentNeil Maggs(Respect)Tom Baldwin(TUSC)OthersTotalVotes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes%Votes% Bristol East 4,021 26.07% 5,392 34.96% 1,492 9.67% 966 6.26% 671 4.35% 486 3.15% 376 2.44% 374 2.42% 311 2.02% 1,089 7.06% 15,423 Bristol North West 7,033 35.83% 5,003 25.49% 2,594 13.22% 1,408 7.17% 771 3.93% 512 2.61% 556 2.83% 250 1.27% 240 1.22% 993 5.06% 19,628 Bristol South 9,178 36.49% 6,930 27.55% 2,087 8.30% 1,569 6.24% 1,173 4.66% 818 3.25% 466 1.85% 505 2.01% 408 1.62% 1,690 6.72% 25,151 Bristol West 11,043 46.49% 8,531 35.92% 1,945 8.19% 2,246 9.46% 2,622 11.04% 587 2.47% 453 1.91% 433 1.82% 447 1.88% 1,322 5.57% 30,068 Totals 31,321 34.70% 25,896 28.69% 8,136 9.01% 6,202 6.87% 5,248 5.81% 2,404 2.66% 1,855 2.05% 1,568 1.74% 1,412 1.56% 5,110 5.66% 90,273 27.92% By Constituency (2nd Round) yes #B0CEFF;line-height:135%; none ConstituencyGeorge Ferguson(Bristol 1st)Marvin Rees(Labour)Votes%Votes% Bristol East 4,901 43.69% 6,317 56.31% Bristol North West 8,485 58.48% 6,025 41.52% Bristol South 10,725 56.31% 8,320 43.69% Bristol West 13,194 55.55% 10,557 44.45% Totals 37,353 54.44% 31,259 45.56% References Mayoral election Bristol mayoral Category:Elections in Bristol Category:May 2012 in the United Kingdom Category:Mayoral elections in England