By Harry Mottram: In a night when there were local election results across the country that have seen a surge in support for the Reform Party, Labour held the post of Mayor for the West of England Combined Authority. Helen Godwin for Labour will succeed Dan Norris who stepped down as the mayor as the Labour Party rules bars him from the job since he became an MP in 2024. He as previously reported is currently being investigated by police over a number of serious allegations.
Helen Godwin polled 51,197 votes – around a quarter of the overall votes – with Aaron Banks securing 45,252 votes pushing the Green Party’s Mary Page into third place with 41,094 votes. Steve Smith for the Conservatives was fourth, the Liberal Democrat Oli Henman fifth and the Independent Ian Scott last.
In a hard to predict election result polls variously put the Greens, Reform UK and Labour as favourites to win – with Labour in the end prevailing. Nationally there has been a shake up with Reform UK winning the byelection in Runcorn and Helsby by just 6 votes over Labour and taking the Metro Mayor role in Greater Lincolnshire. However Labour held on to the other mayoral areas while the counting of local elections – none in the Bath area – take place today.
West of England Results
| Party | Votes | % | Position |
| Labour: Helen Godwin | 51,197 | 25 | 1 |
| Reform UK: Arron Banks | 45,252 | 22.1 | 2 |
| Green Mary: Page | 41,094 | 20 | 3 |
| Conservative: Steve Smith | 34,092 | 16.6 | 4 |
| Lib Dem: Oli Henman | 28,711 | 14 | 5 |
| Independent: Ian Scott | 4,682 | 2.3 | 6 |
Turnout: 30%
Bath Voice Monthly Newspaper is distributed free to thousands of homes and some supermarkets – distributed from the first of the month. Harry Mottram is the News Editor
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