Green surge sees them become joint biggest party in Bristol bristol247.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from bristol247.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last modified on Sun 9 May 2021 17.15 EDT
The co-leader of the Green party has said voters have finally come to accept his party as a credible electoral force as he marked gains from both Labour and the Conservatives in local elections.
Jonathan Bartley said the partyâs strong performance in areas such as Bristol â where it is now the joint-largest party, forcing the Labour mayor Marvin Rees into a run-off vote â showed it could no longer be dismissed as a wasted vote.
âWeâre moving from being the biggest small party to being one of the big parties,â he said. âWeâve been polling ahead of the Lib Dems and weâve seen in this election that there are no no-go areas for the Greens.â
BBC News
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image captionThe Greens now have as many councillors on Bristol City Council as Labour, who controlled the authority before the election
Labour has lost control of Bristol City Council, a day after the party s mayor Marvin Rees was re-elected.
The party has 24 councillors, down from 33, and was hit by Green Party gains in its heartlands, with cabinet member Afzal Shah losing his Easton seat.
The Greens also have 24 councillors, up from 11, and its ranks include an 18-year-old who helped organise Greta Thunberg s Bristol rally.
The Conservatives still have 14 seats and the Lib Dems dropped to eight.
image captionAmirah Cole said it had been a difficult day for Labour
Kill The Bill protest: Police urge Bristol people to stay away from today s event
The fifth Kill the Bill protest is set to take place on College Green today at 4pm
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Police have urged protesters to stay away from today s fifth Kill the Bill protest in College Green.
Set to take place at 4pm, the protest has been backed by Extinction Rebellion and Bristol Youth Strike 4 Climate but Avon and Somerset Constabulary have said consider alternative ways in a new statement.