Bristol mayoral referendum: Voters say yes to city mayor election
Bristol has voted in favour of a directly elected mayor.
In a dramatic result the Yes vote won by 5152 in favour of the city being run by an elected mayor.
Yes campaigners celebrated the result and claimed having a Bristol mayor is the right decision.
Jaya Chakrabarti, from the Yes campaign, said she was "shocked, elated and proud of the whole team" She said it was a great day for the city and, when elected, the mayor would have a strong mandate from the city.
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Cllr Tim Kent, who spearheaded the No campaign, said he was clearly disappointed however he accepted what the people of Bristol had decided and would work with the new system.
In the final results 41,032 voted Yes 35,880 voted No to a mayor.
With just 1 in 4 people voting in yesterday's referendum both camps said the turn out was very disappointing for democracy.
Stephen Perry from the Yes campaign said "We had very low expectations anyway having not found a level of interest amongst the public. In many ways the turn out was slightly higher than we thought given the absence of local elections - but this result is not healthy for Bristol. It's worrying that people are disengaging with politics and while it is a valid vote it's not healthy "
Cllr Kent said "The turn out is what we predicted but it's not a good turn out and it's not good for democracy. It shows people in Bristol did not want this referendum...Their priority is paying the bills, jobs and the economy not the eternal politics of how the council is run. The government has rushed this referendum and that is not good for democracy"
Elections for the mayor will be held later this year.
How the election result was announced:
Comments
by soulsurfer999
Tuesday, May 22 2012, 7:59AM
“banksy for mayor
http://tinyurl.com/czhokl6”
by Bristolexpat
Saturday, May 05 2012, 8:18AM
“This means 13% of the population of Bristol voted for a Mayor.
11% voted for no mayor and 76% didnt vote at all.
87% did not vote for a mayor and we still get one?
Is there not a minimum required for a referendum to stand?
As it happens I am for a Mayor but will wait to see the caliber of candidates on offer before getting too excited.
I really hope that more people vote when it comes to choosing who will be Mayor.
On current form we could end up with someone with just 6-7% of Bristols votes. And that isnt so good.....”
by 321stan
Saturday, May 05 2012, 1:12AM
“oldbristolian said "Wonderful news. This is a very good day for Bristol. We now have one foot on the starting block. We can be proud in the knowledge that we have played a small part in the future of Bristol by voting Yes."
With a turn out of 24%, it's hardly anything to get excited about is it ***.
This will end up as another political fiasco for our city.
Just look at the early starters throwing their hats in the ring, totally uninspiring.
Unless some decent independent choices get involved, it will be a complete waste of time.
The current candidates are all party affiliated & will just toe their party line, no matter how they try & fudge it.
What we end up with is a extension of power to one of the main parties, something that most people are fed up with.
Perhaps it explains why so many people couldn't be bothered to go out & vote?”
by geoffers
Saturday, May 05 2012, 1:01AM
“I wonder if Colin Sexstone is interested in standing? He could make an excellent mayor.”
by corrupt
Friday, May 04 2012, 11:43PM
“@burt and just like any politician I can't use social media very well either. so do I get your vote then ;-)
http://tinyurl.com/84d7pxd”
by Bert_Hindle
Friday, May 04 2012, 11:35PM
“@corrupt: You'll do well as a politician - you are repeating yourself already!”
by corrupt
Friday, May 04 2012, 9:54PM
“I will be changing my name again and standing as "Mr Corrupt Selfserving Lying B'stard" with a single policy to print a local currency "the bristol pound" and pay an unconditional basic income guarantee to all bristol residents of £10000 bristol pounds a year. I will also only accept a wage of the national average of £489 a week. In bristol pounds of course ;-)”
by corrupt
Friday, May 04 2012, 9:52PM
“I will be changing my name again and standing as "Mr Corrupt Selfserving Lying B'stard" with a single policy to print a local currency "the bristol pound" and pay an unconditional basic income guarantee to all bristol residents of £10000 bristol pounds a year. I will also only accept a wage of the national average of £489 a week. In bristol pounds of course ;-)”
by oldbristolian
Friday, May 04 2012, 9:38PM
“Wonderful news. This is a very good day for Bristol. We now have one foot on the starting block. We can be proud in the knowledge that we have played a small part in the future of Bristol by voting Yes. The big task that lays ahead now is for us to get the right candidate elected and get on with building a better Bristol, a Bristol that will be ready to compete with other cities not just in the UK but Europe.
Thank you Bristol Evening Post for getting behind the vote when others doubted it. Now I ask you to promote the process of election and give our people all the information they need in order to vote for the right person who. We will support our elected Mayor in the same measures as we will ask the questions when he or she fails to deliver.
Lets get Bristol moving again and bring the pride back into our Politics.”
by georges1974
Friday, May 04 2012, 9:25PM
“@heatherika
So because I am white, male and have above modest income I should be stripped of my vote!
GET A LIFE!”