Labour’s former Bristol City Council cabinet member Kye Dudd who lost his seat last May has won the Southmead by-election after narrowly seeing off the latest Green surge.
The 37-year-old was returned to City Hall by just 52 votes ahead of Green candidate Ed Burnham. It means the two main parties in the chamber have 24 councillors each again, although Labour mayor Marvin Rees also has a vote at full council and has a cabinet comprising entirely his own party, with the Greens in opposition.
Cllr Dudd’s victory is a hold for Labour following the resignation of Cllr Helen Godwin, also a cabinet member, in December, which prompted the poll on Thursday (February 17). But while the group’s vote held relatively steady, slipping by 3.4 per cent from May 2021 to 41.25 per cent, the Greens’ soared by more than 19 per cent to 38.5 per cent and from fifth place only nine months ago to a close second.
Read more: Labour scraps Southmead park housing plan ahead of by-election
The Conservatives’ support was cut almost in half, down to 14.75 per cent, while the Lib Dems’ vote failed to reach treble figures. After his victory, Cllr Dudd said: “I’m delighted that the people of Southmead have put their trust in me to be their local representative, to stand up for their interests and secure the area the investment it deserves.
“I ran a positive, policy-focused campaign addressing Southmead’s priorities.” He said he was looking forward to achieving his campaign pledges alongside fellow Southmead ward Labour Cllr Brenda Massey, Mr Rees and MP Darren Jones.
“Thank you to everyone that voted for me and thank you to the tireless Labour activists who turned out every day to help me knock doors and deliver leaflets – I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Read more: Southmead residents speak ahead of council by-election this week
Also read: Labour loses overall control of Bristol council after 'Green surge'
Mr Burnham said: “I’m immensely proud of our campaign and will continue to work tirelessly for the people of Southmead. Labour made a lot of promises during this campaign, and you can be sure that I and local residents will spend the next two years holding them to account on these promises.”
Cllr Dudd was cabinet member for transport before losing his old Central ward seat by just 14 votes last year.
The results from Thursday were:
Kye Dudd (Labour) - 780 votes
Ed Burnham (Green) - 728 votes
Roddy Jaques (Conservative) - 279 votes
Gill Brooks (Liberal Democrat) - 82 votes
Tom Baldwin (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) - 22 votes.
The turnout was 1,891, or 21.2 per cent.
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