Labour’s Helen Godwin has been declared West of England Combined Authority Metro Mayor.
In what was always expected to be an exceedingly close election, Godwin won 51,197 vote in the region, only 5,945 more than Reform UK candidate Arron Banks’ 45,252 votes.
The results were declared in the early hours of Friday 2nd May at Oasis Academy in Brislington, with Green Party candidate Mary Page coming in third after winning 41,094 votes.
Voters across Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset, and South Gloucestershire went to the polls to cast their votes yesterday (Thursday 1st May) for the WECA Metro Mayor, a position only previously held by men since its establishment in 2017.
Godwin, who arrived at the count with her husband and children, said she was “excited to get started” in the role, mentioning transport and housing as key areas of focus in the early weeks.
Meanwhile, Banks, who seemed in high spirits throughout the evening, highlighted the “tidal wave” of support that had led to such a narrow margin between Labour and Reform, and has adamantly maintained throughout the campaign that he was the only candidate fully qualified for the job.
“I’m the only person who’s run a business, or done anything,” Banks said. “I’m not afraid to go and knock heads to get stuff done.”
The mood from the Liberal Democrat and Green parties was one of tentative optimism throughout both the campaign and the election night.
“Obviously it’s disappointing,” said Page once the declaration had been made, “”but I’m so proud of my team, and it just shows what we can build”.
Support was limited at the venue for Conservative candidate Steve Smith, however all candidates except for Independent Ian Scott were present for the declaration.
