Helen Godwin, the newly elected Labour Mayor of the West of England, was sworn in on May 7 and has promptly appointed Kevin Guy, leader of the Liberal Democrats on Bath and North East Somerset Council, as her first deputy mayor. This marks the revival of the West of England Deputy Mayor role, which will now rotate annually among the leaders of the area’s three councils.
Ms. Godwin narrowly defeated Reform UK’s Arron Banks in last week’s mayoral election. She emphasized her commitment to setting aside party politics to drive vital regional projects forward, saying, “To get the best for all of us in the West Country, politicians must put politics to one side. That’s how we’ll lay the Bristol to Portishead Line, build new affordable homes, and help create the jobs of the future.”
Expressing enthusiasm for collaborative governance, Godwin highlighted working with the Labour government and her regional counterparts—Kevin Guy, Tony Dyer, Maggie Tyrrell, and Ian Boulton—to achieve meaningful progress for local residents. “Our residents deserve nothing less, and that’s the only way that we will make things happen,” she said.
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Kevin Guy welcomed the opportunity and congratulated Ms. Godwin on her victory. He underscored the importance of a united approach to securing government funding and advancing crucial initiatives for Bath and North East Somerset and the broader region.
The West of England Combined Authority is comprised of leaders from Bath and North East Somerset Council, Bristol City Council, and South Gloucestershire Council, along with the Mayor. Together, they oversee regional transport improvements and major investment projects.
The authority had previously faced government scrutiny over internal political tensions under former mayor Dan Norris, a fellow Labour politician currently suspended from the party. That “best value notice” was lifted shortly before the recent election, and Ms. Godwin assures that her leadership will bring a fresh and cooperative approach.
Tony Dyer, Green leader of Bristol City Council, acknowledged the critical period the combined authority is entering and expressed a commitment to strengthening partnerships across councils. Similarly, South Gloucestershire co-leaders Maggie Tyrrell (Lib Dem) and Ian Boulton (Labour) welcomed Ms. Godwin’s leadership, praising recent progress in building constructive relationships within the region.
While North Somerset Council remains outside the combined authority, discussions about joining continue. Leader Mike Bell (Liberal Democrat) extended congratulations to the new mayor, and deputy leader Catherine Gibbon (Labour) confirmed the council’s interest in reengaging talks to join the combined authority, stressing the potential benefits after appropriate consultations.
The mayoral race concluded with Ms. Godwin securing 51,197 votes (25%), followed closely by Arron Banks with 45,252 votes (22.1%). Reflecting on the tight contest, Ms. Godwin remarked, “It was always going to be close; we knew that.”