Voters going to the polls for South Gloucestershire Council’s local elections next week face the unusual situation of knowing just one of the three main parties’ leaders. Cllr Toby Savage announced in March that he was standing down after five years at the helm of the authority’s Conservative administration following the birth of his second child, which he called a “promotion to dad-of-two”.
Opposition Labour group leader Cllr Pat Rooney has also announced her retirement from local politics after three decades as a South Gloucestershire councillor and nine years leading her party. It leaves just Lib Dem Cllr Claire Young as the only current group leader standing for reelection on Thursday, May 4.
South Gloucestershire Council has been a three-party authority for many years – there are currently no councillors representing any others, although some seats are being contested by candidates for the Greens, independents, Reform UK and the National Housing Party No More Refugees. Cllr Young would be likely to lead the authority in the event of a big swing to a victory for the Lib Dems, and if she successfully defends her Frampton Cotterell seat, but who would be leader if the Tories retain power or Labour can cause an upset and improve their standing as the third biggest party?
Read more: South Gloucestershire Council leader to step down in May after local elections
Neither has announced their successor ahead of polling day, which is understandable given that it would depend entirely on who is elected. But the Conservatives say Cllr Savage’s replacement will be selected from the new pool of councillors a week or two after polling day.
If reelected, the contenders would include the authority’s current deputy leader Cllr Ben Stokes. Labour says its process will be quicker and that the group will announce its new leader by the end of Tuesday, May 9. Cllr Ian Boulton is the group’s deputy leader.
Read next:
May local elections: South Gloucestershire Council dates and candidates list in full
May local elections: What each party in South Gloucestershire is promising to do
Voters in South Gloucestershire will need to show ID at upcoming council elections
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