Thursday marks a significant day for local elections across the UK, but for the majority of Somerset, it is business as usual. While the residents of Bath and North East Somerset will be heading to the polls to vote for the West of England Combined Authority Metro Mayor, there are no council elections taking place in the county.
The next full elections for Bath and North East Somerset Council, Somerset Council, and North Somerset Council are not scheduled until 2027. This is due to the four-year election cycle where the entire council is elected at once.
On May 1, the Bath and North East Somerset district will join Bristol and South Gloucestershire in electing the new West of England Metro Mayor. The list of candidates includes Arron Banks (Reform UK), Helen Godwin (Labour), Oli Henman (Liberal Democrat), Mary Page (Green), Ian Scott (Independent), and Steve Smith (Conservative).
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This election coincides with many other local elections across the country, except in Somerset. The West of England Metro Mayor election is expected to serve as a primary electoral test for Keir Starmer’s new Labour government.
The voters participating in the West of England Metro Mayor election will need to present one of the accepted forms of photo ID at their polling station.