2003 Bristol City Council election

2003 Bristol City Council election
1 May 2003 (2003-05-01)
24 of 70 seats (one third) to Bristol City Council
36 seats needed for a majority
Registered196,221
Turnout34.19%
  Majority party Minority party Third party
 
Leader Diane Bunyan Barbara Janke Peter Abraham
Party Labour Liberal Democrats Conservative
Leader since May 2002 15 May 1997[1] 14 January 1999[2]
Leader's seat Windmill Hill (defeated) Clifton Stoke Bishop
Last election 36 24 10
Seats before 13 9 2
Seats won 8 13 3
Seats after 31 28 11
Seat change Decrease 5 Increase 4 Increase 1
Popular vote 18,942 22,901 15,414
Percentage 28.3% 34.2% 23.0%
Swing Decrease 11.6% Increase 5.7% Increase 0.9%
  Fourth party
 
Party Green
Last election 0
Seats before 0
Seats won 0
Seats after 0
Seat change Steady
Popular vote 4,631
Percentage 6.9%
Swing Decrease 0.0%
2003 local election results in Bristol
Council Leader before election before election

Diane Bunyan
Labour

 Council Leader after election

Barbara Janke
Liberal Democrats

The 2003 Bristol City Council election took place on 1 May 2003, on the same day as other local elections in the UK. The Labour Party made a number of losses, mainly to the Liberal Democrats, and lost overall control of the council.[3][4]

Loses included Council leader Diane Bunyan, who lost her Windmill Hill seat to the Liberal Democrats.[5] This year also saw elections contested by the new Bristolian Party, founded by the local 'scandal sheet' The Bristolian, though they failed to win any seats.[6]

Previous composition

2001 election

Party Seats
Labour 36
Liberal Democrats 24
Conservative 10
Total 70

Changes between elections

Summary

Election result

2003 Bristol City Council election[7]
Party This election Full council This election
Candidates Seats Net Seats % Other Total Total % Votes Votes % +/−
  Liberal Democrats 24 13 Increase 4 54.2 15 28 40.0 22,901 34.2 Increase 5.7
  Labour 24 8 Decrease 5 33.3 16 31 44.3 18,942 28.3 Decrease 11.6
  Conservative 24 3 Increase 1 12.5 8 11 15.7 15,414 23.0 Increase 0.9
  Green 23 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 4,631 6.9 Decrease 0.0
  Bristolian 11 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 2,560 3.8 N/a
  BNP 4 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 1,128 1.7 N/a
  Independent 2 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 623 0.9 N/a
  Socialist Alliance 4 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 513 0.8 N/a
  Socialist Labour 2 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 109 0.2 Decrease 0.9
  Socialist 1 0 Steady 0.0 0 0 0.0 60 0.1 Decrease 1.2
Total 119 24 Steady 46 70 65.7 66,881
Popular vote
Liberal Democrats
 
 34.24%
Labour
 
 28.32%
Conservative
 
 23.05%
Green
 
 6.92%
Bristolian
 
 3.83%
Other
 
 3.64%
Council seats
Liberal Democrats
 
 54.17%
Labour
 
 33.33%
Conservative
 
 12.50%
Bristol City Council composition following the 2003 election

Election of Group Leaders

Peter Hammond (Southmead) was elected leader of the Labour Group, Barbara Janke (Clifton) was re-elected leader of the Liberal Democrats group and Peter Abraham (Stoke Bishop) was re-elected leader of the Conservative group.

Government Formation

Following the loss of their majority,[8] new labour leader Peter Hammond announced the party's intention to leave government, saying "Following a second year of failing to win the popular vote and finding ourselves without a majority on the council we feel the only principled and legitimate decision is to pass control to the other two parties. We feel this is a reflection of the desire of the voters of Bristol to have a change."[9] However both opposition parties refused to take over unless Labour remained part of the government, with the Lib Dems proposing for an interim cabinet made up of representatives from all three parties and the Conservative suggesting a 5-member interim cabinet headed by their leader Peter Abraham. After failed meetings on 13 & 20 May and 5 June, on 9 June, following a fourth failed meeting the labour caretaker executive resigned.[10][11][12][13]

However, by 17 June, Labour had backed down and agreed to the Lib Dem proposal of a cabinet of three Lib Dems, three Labour and two Conservative councillors, led by their leader Barbara Janke.[14][15]

Ward results

Swings are compared to the 1999 election when these seats were last contested.

Ashley

Ashley
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Shirley Marshall 1,313 41.6 +10.6
Labour Helga Benson * 746 23.6 –11.8
Bristolian Darryl Wandless 343 10.9 N/a
Green David Simpson 335 10.6 –10.1
Socialist Alliance Anne Lemon 202 6.4 N/a
Conservative Richard Manns 151 4.8 +0.9
Socialist Labour Bernard Kennedy 65 2.1 –6.9
Majority 567 18.0 +13.5
Rejected ballots 9 0.3 +0.1
Turnout 3,164 38.5 –5.0
Registered electors 8,226 –3.5
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing +11.2

Bedminster

Bedminster
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Crispin * 1,001 31.70
Independent Stewart Parkman 508 16.09 N/a
Conservative Christian Simpson 436 13.81
Liberal Democrats Paul Elvin 386 12.22
Bristolian Julie Palmer 319 10.10 N/a
BNP Clive Courtney 310 9.82 N/a
Green Peter Andrews 198 6.27
Majority 493 15.61
Rejected ballots 6 0.2
Turnout 3,164 36.8
Registered electors 8,588
Labour hold Swing

Bishopsworth

Bishopsworth
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Richard Eddy * 2,119 63.63
Labour Julie Watts 735 22.07
BNP David Millard 195 5.86 N/a
Liberal Democrats Jean Lemin 190 5.71
Green Barrie Lewis 91 2.73
Majority 1,384 41.56
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,384
Conservative hold Swing

Brislington East

Brislington East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Peter Begley * 1,165 40.28
Conservative Vincent Mora 839 29.01
Liberal Democrats Jeffery Exon 448 15.49
BNP John Jarvis 293 10.13 N/a
Green David Coombes 103 3.56
Socialist Labour Brian Corbett 44 1.52
Majority 326 11.27
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,533
Labour hold Swing

Brislington West

Brislington West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jackie Norman * 1,573 56.16
Labour Terry Cook 611 21.81
Conservative Colin Bretherton 442 15.78
Green Mary Wood 175 6.25
Majority 962 34.35
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,840
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Cabot

Cabot
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Anne White * 981 52.83
Labour Brian Mead 290 15.62
Conservative Ian Dennis 233 12.55
Bristolian Richard Higgs 178 9.59 N/a
Green Lela McTernan 175 9.42
Majority 691 37.21
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,679
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Clifton

Clifton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Barbara Janke * 1,499 57.19
Conservative Ian Millard 538 20.53
Labour Andrew Butterly 304 11.60
Green Arjuna Krishna-Das 171 6.52
Bristolian Bear Hackenbush 109 4.16 N/a
Majority 961 36.66
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,762
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Clifton East

Clifton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Geoffrey Jones * 996 45.07
Conservative Stephen O'Keefe 714 32.31
Labour Dave Sutton 257 11.63
Green John Hills 152 6.88
Bristolian Kevin Bainbridge 91 4.12 N/a
Majority 282 12.76
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,329
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Cotham

Cotham
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Evelyn Elworthy * 1,257 52.35
Conservative Alistair Watson 395 16.45
Labour Judith Sluglett 386 16.08
Green Geoff Collard 363 15.12
Majority 862 35.90
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,119
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Easton

Easton
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Kiely * 1,298 46.21
Labour Raja Khalid 603 21.47
Bristolian Jane Nicholl 427 15.20 N/a
Green Samantha Pullinger 264 9.40
Conservative Seva Singh 118 4.20
Socialist Alliance Houri Ghamian 99 3.52
Majority 695 24.74
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,022
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Eastville

Eastville
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Muriel Cole 1,145 40.35
Labour Malcolm Patterson 781 27.52
Conservative Jonathan Thorne 498 17.55
Green Martin Cottingham 299 10.54
Independent Robert Paterson 155 4.05 N/a
Majority 364 12.83
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,125
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Filwood

Filwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Ian Cooper 1,293 57.16
Labour Mary Smith 614 27.14
Bristolian Andrew Cocks 167 7.38 N/a
Conservative Jonathan Hucker 127 5.61
Green Mary Thompson 61 2.70
Majority 679 30.02
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,687
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

Frome Vale

Frome Vale
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Lesley Alexander 1,602 47.03
Labour Edmund Bramall 1,175 34.50
Liberal Democrats Roland Potts 481 14.12
Green Tony Gosling 148 4.35
Majority 427 12.53
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,321
Conservative gain from Labour Swing

Hartcliffe

Hartcliffe
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Mark Brain 996 42.49
Conservative Shirley Hodges 894 38.14
Liberal Democrats Joyce Cooper 366 15.61
Green Stephen Petter 88 3.75
Majority 102 4.35
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,040
Labour hold Swing

Hengrove

Hengrove
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Jos Clark 1,600 51.83
Conservative Roy Pepworth 696 22.55
Labour Richard Hughes 695 22.51
Green Nicholas Thomas 96 3.11
Majority 904 29.28
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,778
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Hillfields

Hillfields
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Graham Robertson * 1,057 43.36
Liberal Democrats John Hassell 726 29.78
Conservative Lindsay Elliott 655 26.87
Majority 331 13.58
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,818
Labour hold Swing

Knowle

Knowle
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Christopher Davies 1,952 59.58
Labour Philip Gibby 717 21.89
Conservative Jennifer Rogers 315 9.62
Green Graham Davey 179 5.46
Socialist Alliance Clare Hall 113 3.45
Majority 1,235 37.69
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,251
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

Lawrence Hill

Lawrence Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats John Astley * 1,150 46.30
Labour Carrie Martin 873 35.14
Bristolian Julien Weston 215 8.66 N/a
Conservative Guy Dawe 149 6.00
Green Michael Crawford 97 3.90
Majority 277 11.16
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,347
Liberal Democrats hold Swing

Southville

Southville
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Linda Slater 1,294 40.94
Green Charles Bolton 923 29.20
Conservative Anthony Smith 419 13.26
Liberal Democrats Andrew Kybert 306 9.68
Bristolian Merv Woolford 159 5.03 N/a
Socialist Mark Baker 60 1.90
Majority 371 11.74
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,010
Labour hold Swing

St George East

St George East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Margaret Shovelton * 1,030 38.66
Conservative Matthew Denyer 914 34.31
Liberal Democrats Gordon Draper 469 17.61
Bristolian Andrew Way 144 5.41 N/a
Green Donald Brown 107 4.02
Majority 116 4.35
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,701
Labour hold Swing

St George West

St George West
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour John Deasy * 1,044 44.92
Liberal Democrats Gordon Williams 525 22.59
Conservative Charles Alexander 438 18.85
Bristolian John Francom 182 7.83 N/a
Green David Mowat 135 5.81
Majority 519 22.33
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,818
Labour hold Swing

Stockwood

Stockwood
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Jack Lopresti * 1,753 51.30
Labour Susan Milestone 741 21.69
Liberal Democrats Robert Johnston 511 14.95
BNP Dianne Carr 330 9.66 N/a
Green Royston Gallop 82 2.40
Majority 1,012 29.61
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,324
Conservative hold Swing

Whitchurch Park

Whitchurch Park
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Labour Helen Holland * 910 35.15
Liberal Democrats Nicholas Doddrell 878 33.90
Conservative Kathryn Morris 740 28.57
Green Daniella Radice 62 2.39
Majority 32 1.24
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 7,793
Labour hold Swing

Windmill Hill

Windmill Hill
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Liberal Democrats Mark Bailey 1,558 46.42
Labour Diane Bunyan * 917 27.32
Green Patrick Hulme 327 9.74
Conservative Graham Morris 229 6.82
Bristolian Roy Norris 226 6.73 N/a
Socialist Alliance Sharon Foley 99 2.95
Majority 641 19.10
Rejected ballots
Turnout
Registered electors 8,726
Liberal Democrats gain from Labour Swing

References

  1. ↑ "Lib Dems Choose New Leader". Bristol Evening Post. 15 May 1999. p. 29. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Peter to lead the Tories". Bristol Evening Post. 14 January 1999. p. 5. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Bristol City Council Election Results for 1 May 2003". Bristol City Council. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  4. ↑ Colin Rallings; Michael Thrasher. "Bristol City Council Election Results 1995-2011" (PDF). electionscentre.co.uk. The Elections Centre Plymouth University. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
  5. ↑ "Council leader loses seat". BBC. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  6. ↑ "Smaller parties bang drum for fishing, hospitals and more people power". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 17 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Council Election 01.05.2003". bristol-city.gov.uk. Bristol City Council. 1 May 2003. Archived from the original on 3 July 2003. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "Council leader loses seat". BBC News. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  9. ↑ "Labour hands over control". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 3 May 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Who will run Bristol council?". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 15 May 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  11. ↑ "Deadlock over city leadership". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 21 May 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Council stuck in leadership limbo". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 5 June 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  13. ↑ "Council in turmoil as cabinet quits". The Guardian. Press Association. 10 June 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
  14. ↑ "Labour agrees to help run Bristol". bbc.co.uk. BBC. 11 June 2003. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  15. ↑ "Council crisis over as leader appointed". BBC News. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
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