Labour’s Helen Godwin emerged as the new West of England Mayor, securing 51,197 votes, with Reform UK’s Arron Banks closely following with 45,252 votes.
Despite the significant win for Godwin, the West of England’s politically diverse landscape yielded varied results across the region’s three council areas: Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire. Each area saw a different political party clinching victory.
In Bath and North East Somerset, the Liberal Democrats maintained their stronghold as Oli Heman, a Liberal Democrat councillor, garnered more than a thousand votes above the closest Labour candidate. The closely contested area had three parties vying for second place, with Labour, Reform, and the Conservative parties within 250 votes of each other.
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Bristol was the only council where Labour emerged victorious, with the Green Party closely trailing. The Green Party, hopeful from previous successes in the city, expressed gratification at securing second place, despite resource constraints.
In contrast, Arron Banks secured a definite win in South Gloucestershire, expressing satisfaction with Reform’s performance in the region.
The total valid votes cast across the region amounted to 205,028, with a 30% turnout.
Ms. Godwin, as the new West of England Metro Mayor, will now spearhead the West of England Combined Authority, overseeing transportation and significant investment allocation across the region’s council areas.